A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., turned violent on earlier this week as a passenger viciously attacked another flier who was asleep, according to witnesses.
The suspect, identified as Everett Nelson, reportedly unleashed “blood-curdling screams” and attacked the victim, who was seated by a window on Flight 2247, Fox Business reported.
The assault only ended after a fellow passenger intervened, leaving the cabin shocked by the bloody scene.
Witness Sandhya Gupta recounted the horrifying moments of the attack, describing how Nelson “very violently and very aggressively just pummeling the guy.” She added, “It wasn’t like a bar room [fight]… this was vicious.”
The outburst was so intense that blood spattered onto the airplane window, requiring quick action from both passengers and crew to restrain the assailant and tend to the injured victim.
After Nelson returned from using the bathroom, he reportedly walked back to his seat and suddenly targeted the sleeping passenger. Another passenger stepped in and managed to restrain Nelson, calming him down with what was described as a “hug,” which inexplicably caused Nelson to go limp.
A doctor on board then assisted the injured man, whose face, Gupta said, was badly injured and bleeding.
Following the attack, United Airlines stated that “the flight landed safely and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement.” The Boeing 737-900 carried 82 passengers and six crew members, all of whom disembarked safely once the plane landed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
The FBI has been notified of the incident, though no motive for the alleged assault has been reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it would be investigating the case to ensure passenger safety and assess any federal violations.
United Airlines emphasized the swift action of both passengers and crew in containing the situation. The unsettling event underscores ongoing concerns about in-flight security and passenger conduct on commercial flights.
Written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
