Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alex Lang

Man on San Francisco-bound flight shouts “this airplane is going down” while assaulting crew, prosecutors say

AP

Your support helps us to tell the story

A man tampered with an airplane’s overhead oxygen masks and shouted “this airplane is going down!” in the latest wild scene aboard an aircraft.

Charles Angel Salva, 30, was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants in connection to the incident. He faces 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

The incident happened on a September 9 Frontier Airlines flight from Orange County, California, to San Francisco, according to federal prosecutors.

Shortly after takeoff, flight attendants saw oxygen masks were out of the overhead compartment in one of the rows. They investigated and discovered Silva had his hand in the overhead bin.

A witness said Salva appeared claustrophobic and seemed like he wanted to get off the plane.

The suspect then pulled the oxygen masks down and got his hand stuck in the process. A passenger helped free him, according to prosecutors.

Then, Salva yelled obscenities at the flight attendant. He said, “we are all going to hell” and “this airplane is going down!” authorities said.

A man caused a commotion on a Frontier Airlines flight this week by pulling down oxygen masks and saying he was going to kill everyone on board, prosecutors say. (AP)

He grabbed at a fellow passenger and ran to the rear of the plane as the crew worked to restrain him. Salva then tried to choke a flight attendant and left marks on her neck.

Salva pushed another crew member and said he was going to kill everyone on the plane.

Other passengers helped restrain Silva, who eventually broke out of the flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt, officials said. During the incident, Salva kicked one attendant six times, causing bruising and swelling.

The flight was diverted to Ontario because the crew did not feel safe trying to put Salva back in his seat, according to prosecutors.

Salva was arrested on Wednesday in connection to the case.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.