Kansas Man Faces Charges After Incident on Flight
Julius Jordan Priester, a 24-year-old from Kansas, has been charged with assaulting a flight attendant during an American Airlines flight. The incident occurred on May 27 while the plane was en route from Bradley International Airport in Connecticut to Chicago.
About 30 to 60 minutes into the flight, Priester allegedly stood up, took off his shirt, and ran toward the back of the plane shouting for help. He then reportedly grabbed a seated flight attendant, yelling, "you’re coming with me," and attempted to drag the attendant up the aisle.
Several passengers stepped in to intervene, managing to return Priester to his seat. However, he continued to act erratically and made confusing statements. The situation prompted the flight captain to declare an emergency, resulting in the plane being diverted back to Bradley Airport.
Upon landing, Priester was removed from the aircraft by Connecticut State Police and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Prosecutors stated that he is being held pending a bond hearing on May 30. The charges he faces, which include interfering with flight crew members, could lead to a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
American Airlines released a statement emphasizing that they do not tolerate violence and thanked their staff and passengers for their quick response during the incident. The FBI and Connecticut State Police are currently investigating the case.
