American Airlines turns back a flight, declares emergency as passenger assaults crew member

A Connecticut to Chicago flight had to turn back as American Airlines declared an emergency mid-air after a passenger, a Kansas man, grabbed a flight attendant and assaulted him. The incident took place Tuesday night and now the Kansas man, who has a criminal history, is facing federal charges. 24-year-old Julius Jordan Priester was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.

According to a news release from the US attorney's office in Connecticut, Priester started acting erratically on the plane around 10 pm -- some 30 minutes into the one-hour flight.

Priester took off his shirt and ran towards the back of the plane, shouting 'Help me'. Then he grabbed a flight attendant by the shirt collar and forced the person to the ground, yelling, "You are coming with me". Attempts were made to stop him, but he continued to drag the flight attendant up the aisle.

Other passengers pushed him back to his seat, where he became restless and started speaking incoherently. The captain declared an emergency and the flight was diverted back to Connecticut's Bradley Airport, where it started. Connecticut State Police removed Priester from the plane, and an ambulance took him to a hospital for evaluation, prosecutors said. He was arrested at the hospital, according to the affidavit.

"On May 27, American Eagle flight 3359, operated by Envoy, with service from Hartford (BDL) to Chicago (ORD), returned to BDL due to a disruptive customer," American Airlines said in a statement. "We do not tolerate violence, and we thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their assistance."