- A Frontier passenger started punching the seat in front of him and a window, an FBI affidavit stated.
- Raul Ramos Tamayo was restrained by crew and other passengers on the flight from Dever to Houston.
- Police met the flight when it landed and he could face a prison sentence or fine if convicted.
A Frontier Airlines passenger could be given a prison sentence after being restrained midflight by other travelers last month.
Raul Ramos Tamayo, 31, was on Frontier flight 4856 from Denver to Houston, per an affidavit from an FBI special agent.
About 30 minutes after takeoff, he started punching the seat in front of him, witnesses are said to have told the FBI.
After crew members approached him, Tamayo is alleged to have started punching a window, resulting in damage.
The affidavit stated that the cabin crew then asked for help from any law enforcement officers or able-bodied passengers, several of whom helped restrain Tamayo with flex cuffs around his wrists and ankles.
Tamayo was then put back into a seat and surrounded by the passengers who subdued him for the rest of the 2½-hour flight, it added.
Officers from the Houston Police Department met the flight at the gate at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Tamayo was charged with destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence and a fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI affidavit cited an internal airline report that said the damage included a cracked window, broken window shade, and broken outer lining of the window. The total cost of the damage was estimated at $1,546.
“Based on my experience as a Special Agent, I know that a passenger on an aircraft must not cause damage to the aircraft, especially when the aircraft is in flight,” the affidavit read.
While cases of unruly passengers remain above pre-pandemic levels, it isn’t clear that they always result in prosecutions.
Some airlines are taking more legal actions themselves. Ryanair, Europe’s biggest airline, said in January it was suing a passenger for about $15,500 because the individual caused a flight to divert.
“When the public flies, they need to feel confident that they are doing so under safe conditions,” said Nicholas J. Ganjei, US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.
“Given the fact that greater Houston has two major international airports, with tens of millions of travelers a year, the Southern District of Texas is always ready to prosecute those that endanger the safety of passengers.”
