Frontier Passenger Kicks Flight Attendant: "This Airplane is Going Down"

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A Frontier Airlines flight from Orange County, California, to San Francisco was forced to make an emergency landing in Ontario, California, after a passenger physically assaulted a flight attendant.

The incident, which occurred on September 9, 2024, involved a man identified as Charles Angel Salva.

According to news reports, Salva began exhibiting disruptive behavior during the flight and making threats.

"Salva allegedly began yelling obscenities at flight attendants and said 'this airplane is going down,'" the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a report.

The incident began when Salva reportedly began tampering with the aircraft's oxygen masks.

When crew members tried to detail Salva, he attempted to choke one of them and left marks on his neck.

The man later broke free of his flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt. At one point the report alleges that Salva kicked a flight attendant six times in the leg, causing swelling.

The incident forced the plane to land at Ontario International Airport.

Reports stated that Silva "appeared claustrophobic and seemed like he wanted to get off the plane."

Passengers on board reported feeling frightened and anxious as the situation unfolded. The flight attendant who was assaulted was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Salva was taken into custody by law enforcement upon landing and faces charges related to the assault and disruption of the flight. The exact charges are pending, but they are expected to be serious given the nature of the incident.

Flight attendants have reported an increase in incidents of verbal and physical aggression from passengers.

Airlines and aviation authorities have taken steps to address the issue, including implementing stricter policies for dealing with disruptive passengers and increasing the penalties for such behavior.