Episode #4 / 2021_12_16

Next here with millions traveling for the holidays. The new case of an unruly passenger. Authorities say the passenger assaulted a flight attendant and an air marshal. ABC’s Zohreen Shah at LAX tonight.

Tonight that frightening midair confrontation. A passenger accused of assaulting a flight attendant and then an air marshal.

“Please, help!”

The passenger then restrained in a seat. The Delta flight from Washington DC diverting to Oklahoma City. Police taking 35-year-old Ariel Pennington into custody, booking him on disorderly conduct and public drunkenness charges. One passenger told ABC Pennington had refused to wear a mask.

The flight eventually reaching its destination here in Los Angeles.

“He was pretty much like yelling that people were trying to tell him what to do.”

There have been more than 5,500 cases just this year of unruly passengers: the most in FAA’s history.

“It’s scary to experience something like that. Especially being however many thousand feet in the air and not knowing what to do.”

Pennington could face federal charges and the FBI is now investigating, David.

It’s Zohreen Shah. Thank you.