A Haitian man who forced the diversion of a Paris-bound flight to Boston has been charged with assaulting flight crew.
About two hours into the American Airlines flight after take-off from Miami, the man was involved in a heated exchange with another passenger due to a reclining seat dispute.
The charge alleges Edmond Alexandre, 60, argued with the other passenger, then grasped a flight attendant by the arm and was then restrained by federal air marshals aboard the aircraft.
If convicted of the charge of interfering with a flight crew in the Boston court, Alexandre could be jailed for up to 20 years.
The August 27 incident came just days after a similar spat over legroom caused a United Airlines flight to divert to Chicago.
Alexandre’s lawyer, Josh Hanye said his client has serious health problems which includes diabetes, and it was not being properly treated at the time.
