Fremont man who allegedly went berserk on SF-bound flight facing federal charges

( KRON ) — Charles Angel Salva, 30, of Fremont, is facing a potential 20 years in federal prison after assaulting passengers and flight attendants on a San Francisco-bound flight in September, a federal complaint filed by the Justice Department Thursday alleges.

According to the complaint, Salva was on a Frontier Airlines flight bound from an Orange County airport destined for San Francisco International Airport on September 9.

Right after taking off—”while the airplane was climbing and under 10,000 feet”—flight attendants noticed one of the middle row’s oxygen masks out of its compartment and Salva’s hand stuck in the overhead compartment, the complaint said.

One passenger later told police that “Salva appeared claustrophobic and seemed like he wanted to get off the plane,” leading to him reaching for an oxygen mask and getting his hand stuck.

The complaint says Salva allegedly began yelling obscenities at flight attendants, such as “We are all going to hell” and “This airplane is going down!” Salva then ran to the back of the plane, allegedly “grabbing at fellow passengers” before flight attendants tried to restrain him.

While attempting to restrain him, “Salva allegedly then attempted to choke a flight attendant, leaving two small marks on the victim’s neck,” the complaint said. Salva then pushed another flight attendant and said “he was going to kill everybody,” the complaint alleges.

Salva allegedly “broke out flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt,” the affidavit alleges, claiming passengers also aided in restraining the Fremont man.

“During the incident, Salva kicked one flight attendant approximately six times in the leg, causing apparent bruising and swelling, which required medical attention,” the affidavit alleges.

The complaint says the flight diverted to Ontario International Airport because “the flight attendants did not feel safe trying to put Salva back in his seat.”

Salva is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants. The Fremont man was arrested Wednesday and is expected to make his initial appearance on Thursday in US District Court in Riverside.

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