Passenger dispute forces Paris-bound flight to land in Boston

An American Airlines flight from Miami to Paris had to be diverted to Boston when two passengers got into an argument and one of them grabbed a member of the crew, authorities said.

When Flight 62 landed at Logan International Airport in Boston on Wednesday night, Edmund Alexandre of Paris was arrested on suspicion of disrupting the flight, said the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts.

In a statement, the U.S. attorney’s office said Alexandre, 60, began to argue with another passenger about 9:10 p.m., and their dispute escalated. Alexandre then followed a crew member to the back of the plane and grabbed her arm, the statement said.

At that point, an unknown number of federal air marshals identified themselves and placed Alexandre in handcuffs. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

American Airlines refused to comment on whether the passengers’ disagreement was over leg room.

This marks the second time in a week that a U.S. flight has been diverted because of combative passengers.

United Airlines Flight 1462 had to land in Chicago instead of Denver on Sunday because two passengers reportedly got into a fight over leg room. One passenger is accused of tossing water in the face of another passenger who reportedly refused to let her recline her seat. Neither was arrested, but both were kicked off the plane, which continued to Denver.

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