California man facing 20 years in federal prison after attacking flight attendants, DOJ says

A Northern California man has been federally indicted after he allegedly assaulted flight attendants on a flight from Orange County to San Francisco, forcing the plane to divert to the Inland Empire.

Charles Angel Salva, 30, is charged with interfering with flight crew members and attendants, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release .

On Monday, Salva was aboard a Frontier Airlines flight headed from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana to San Francisco International Airport when he allegedly pulled down his oxygen mask and got his hand stuck in the overhead compartment in the process.

Salva, whom passengers said appeared to be “claustrophobic,” then began swearing at flight attendants, yelling things such as “This airplane is going down!” and “We are all going to hell,” prosecutor said.

He then “grabbed at fellow passengers and ran towards the rear of the airplane when flight attendants tried to restrain him,” the release said.

He also allegedly tried to choke a flight attendant, then pushed another attendant while saying “he was going to kill everybody,” prosecutors said.

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

The flight then diverted to Ontario for safety reasons.

He was arrested on Wednesday and is due to appear in U.S. District Court in Riverside Thursday afternoon.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

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