Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An American Airlines flight attendant was physically assaulted by an unruly passenger on Wednesday. The incident happened on American Airlines Flight 377 with service from San José del Cabo, Mexico, to Los Angeles International Airport. Law enforcement met the flight at the gate and removed the unruly individual, according to a statement from American Airlines. Video posted on social media shows an individual approach a flight attendant toward the front of the plane and proceed to punch the flight attendant with an audible gasp from passengers who witnessed the incident.

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, released the following statement: 

"It’s an incredibly hard day for Flight Attendants to go to work. But all over the country they are doing it. They are doing it even in the most persistently dangerous time for their personal safety - not only because they are brave, but because they are committed to bringing people together. Many people would like us to believe we are divided and many will say today, "What is wrong with people?"T here must be swift and clear consequences for violent acts, but there must also be leadership that asks, “What is the right thing to do and demonstrate?”

"We see kindness everyday on our planes and it makes a difference. All over this country Flight Attendants have a message for the traveling public and the communities where we live and work: be kind, recognize good, thank a worker in airports, grocery and retail stores, bakeries, factories, construction, schools, hospitals, farms, fields, restaurants, in the post office and out on deliveries. Americans crave solidarity and everyone needs a little help.

"This is your Flight Attendant speaking: be a helper. We all need a little help to heal and enjoy this flight."

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 76 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.