A Delta Air Lines passenger is facing federal charges after allegedly slapping a flight attendant on the buttocks when he had been skipped during beverage service on a flight from Florida to California.
According to court documents obtained by People, 32-year-old Cody James Maluck of Indianapolis was charged with interference with flight crew members or attendants following the incident aboard Delta Flight 800 on 9 May. The flight had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was bound for Los Angeles before it was diverted to Atlanta.
The incident occurred shortly after flight attendants began complimentary beverage service. A flight attendant identified in court records as “P.L.L.” told investigators that she passed by Maluck because she believed he was asleep.
After serving another passenger nearby, the flight attendant alleged that she “felt a slap to her buttocks area with sufficient force to cause her body to move forward,” according to the complaint.
Another flight attendant witnessed the encounter and confirmed that she heard P.L.L. yell and saw her body move “as if she had been struck or pushed,” the court filing said.
The pilot was informed of the situation and decided to divert the aircraft to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where local law enforcement officers boarded the plane and took Maluck into custody.
During an interview with a federal air marshal, Maluck admitted that he “did touch” P.L.L.’s buttocks area but claimed not to “slap her” hard enough to push her forward. According to the complaint, he claimed he didn’t hear anyone asking if he wanted a beverage because he was wearing headphones.
“Maluck further stated it was not his intention to harm or disrespect [her], but rather that he was attempting to get her attention,” the court documents say.
Federal prosecutors allege that Maluck’s conduct interfered with the duties of the flight crew, resulting in the unscheduled landing. He was initially booked into the Atlanta City Detention Center and made his first court appearance on 11 May.
A federal grand jury indicted Maluck on 3 June, according to court records. The charge of interference with flight crew members and attendants is a felony offence.
Delta said in a statement to People that it maintains a strict policy regarding disruptive passenger behaviour.
“Delta has zero tolerance for disruptive or unruly behavior on our flights. We will always cooperate with law enforcement to address such conduct and protect our people,” the airline said.
The case is the latest in a series of incidents involving alleged assaults against airline employees, as carriers and federal authorities continue to emphasise the legal consequences of disruptive conduct aboard commercial flights.
The UK government is considering the introduction of a nationwide airline blacklist that could prevent disruptive passengers from flying with any carrier, rather than allowing them to switch airlines after being banned by one operator. The proposal, which is expected to be discussed with the aviation industry later this month, would target travellers involved in serious incidents such as violence, harassment of cabin crew and alcohol-related misconduct. A government source told the BBC: “Everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but anti-social behaviour on flights is completely unacceptable. It puts the safety of passengers and crew at risk and disrupts holidays.” The plans would require airlines and the government to work together on a shared database of banned passengers, although current data protection laws present a significant obstacle to such a proposal.
Ryanair has stepped up its efforts to tackle disruptive passengers by introducing fines of at least €500 for travellers removed from flights due to unruly behaviour, with further civil damages if the misconduct results in extra costs for the airline. In one high-profile case, the airline sued a passenger for €15,000 after their alleged behaviour forced a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to divert to Porto, causing overnight delays and additional expenses for more than 160 passengers and crew. Ryanair has also called on European airports to limit passengers to two alcoholic drinks before boarding, arguing that stricter controls on alcohol sales would help improve safety and reduce disruptive incidents on flights.
