A man in Alexandria, Virginia is facing a felony assault charge after attacking a sleeping passenger on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Dulles International Airport. The incident occurred earlier this week and involved Everett Chad Nelson punching the victim multiple times in the face and head, causing him to bleed. Another passenger intervened and stopped the assault.
The attack lasted about a minute, and the flight crew and passengers were quick to respond and restrain the aggressive individual. The victim sustained bruises around his eyes and a cut on his nose as a result of the assault. Nelson, who was moved to a different seat after the incident, did not appear to have any prior connection to the victim.
Nelson, represented by a public defender, is scheduled to stand trial on December 11 in Alexandria, Virginia. A federal magistrate has ordered that he remain in custody until the trial date due to the evidence against him and his unstable employment and housing situation.
This incident is part of a concerning trend of unruly behavior by passengers on flights. In 2021, there were over 1,700 reports of unruly passengers, a significant increase from previous years. While the number of incidents decreased slightly in the following years, it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. This highlights the importance of maintaining order and safety on flights to ensure the well-being of all passengers and crew members.
