A male passenger on a flight from Saint Croix to Miami on Wednesday beat up and spit blood on a fellow passenger after the flight attendant refused to continue serving him alcohol, according to an FBI report.
American Airlines passenger Jason Felix now faces up to 20 years in prison for interfering with flight crew.
During the flight, Felix ordered beers, each time insulting the male flight attendant with slurs. He also got up from his seat on several occasions, prompting the stranger sitting in the aisle seat to have to get up each time, according to a Washington Post report on the FBI affidavit.
As it would turn out, that aisle-seat passenger was a police officer from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who later said he knew of Felix prior to the flight because of his reputation on the small island.
On one occasion during the flight, Felix demanded another beer and the attendant refused to serve him until Flight 1293 landed in South Florida. Felix was said to be very upset afterward and climbed over his seatmate — who was still sitting — to physically chase after the airline employee.
“You need to please sit down. You’re not drinking any more beers,” the attendant said, according to another passenger’s video. “We’ll be there in an hour!”
“Are you my bartender?” Felix asked.
“Yes, I’m your bartender,” the attendant said, then walked away.
Suddenly, Felix attacked the aisle passenger. The cop said Felix spit blood at him and ripped his shirt off. Other passengers jumped in to pull Felix off the cop and the pilot got on the loudspeaker moments later asking people to sit down and buckle up.
“I’m going to kill you. I know you are a cop,” Felix yelled at the aisle passenger, who was moved to a different seat for his own safety.
People were heard in one video telling Felix to calm down.
“No, I don’t want to chill,” Felix replied. “That mother … Run. See! … You run, you run!”
Felix remained seated the duration of the flight and unsuccessfully tried to order more beer. It’s not clear how many drinks he consumed while onboard.
Once the airplane arrived at the Miami International Airport, at least four police officers boarded and escorted him out.
