SAN DIEGO (AP) – woman from California who punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in in face during the flight, having broken his teeth, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.
Vivianna Quinones was also Tuesday’s order by a federal judge in San Diego to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution and $7,500 fine for attack on Southwest flight on May 23, 2021 between Sacramento and San Diego.
Quinones, 29 years old of Sacramento, woman not allowed to fly for three years while she on release under supervision and must participate in anger management classes or counseling.
Quinones last year pleaded guilty to one count of intervention with flight crew members and flight attendants, admitting that she hit the flight attendant in in face as well as head with clenched his fist and grabbed her by the hair. Neither she nor her lawyer can be reached for comment Tuesday.
During the flight final descending, the attendant asked Quinones to fasten her seat belt, put her tray table down and put on her face mask properly.
Instead, Quinones began recording the attendant on her cell phone, pushed her, then got up up and hit a woman in in face and grabbed her by the hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said.
The attack was recorded on mobile phone of another passenger.
plea the agreement stated that the stewardess had three teeth knocked out, two of who needed crowns, along with with bruises and a cut underneath left an eye that needed stitches.
“Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs for ensure passenger safety will not be allowed, ”said US Attorney Randy Grossman. in post-judgment statement.
FBI Special Agent in Accused Stacey Moy delivered the verdict should “Send a very strong message air travelers – the FBI will vigorously pursue anyone who attack or interfere with flight crews.
The incident was part of escalation in naughty behavior air passengers amid the coronavirus pandemic and led the president of flight attendants union ask for more federal air marshals on aircraft.
Airlines in 2021 reported more over 5000 incidents of unguided passengers to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Most of them were passengers who refused follow federal requirement for passengers wear face masks while on aircraft, but about 300 passengers were intoxicated, according to the FAA.
.
