Irvine man faces federal charges in attack on American Airlines flight attendant

A 20-year-old Irvine man was arrested by the FBI Monday at his home after being charged with assaulting an American Airlines female flight attendant on an aircraft that had to divert to Denver because of his behavior.

Brian Hsu is facing federal charges of interference with a flight crew and assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He is accused of attacking a flight attendant American Airlines Flight 976 on Oct. 27. Hsu is slated to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Monday on the charges filed by the U.S. Attorney in Colorado.

The flight from New York to Santa Ana was forced to divert, and Hsu was detained initially upon landing in Denver but not arrested.

“This is happening far too often,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker declared following the incident in which the flight attendant suffered a fractured nose according to flight union officials. “On Wednesday evening we had one of the worst displays of unruly behavior we’ve ever witnessed.”

After being accidentally bumped by the flight attendant, Hsu approached her a short time afterward and allegedly punched her in the face. The flight attendant was taken to a Denver hospital for treatment. Hsu was duct-taped to a seat following the incident.

In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration has reported more unruly passengers than ever on flights. This year so far there have been 4,941 incidents involving unruly passengers and 3,580 incidents involving the requirement that a mask be worn.

Of these incidents, 216 have resulted in enforcement cases being initiated against a passenger. That is tenfold the usual number during the last three decades, according to FAA data.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Atty. Brad Giles is in charge of the prosecution.

Richard Winton writes for the Los Angeles Times.

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