A man accused of assaulting a flight attendant mid-flight, an incident that prompted an unscheduled landing, has been granted release from jail. Keith Fagiana, who faces charges of interfering with a flight crew, was given a $10,000 bond and will be placed in the custody of his estranged wife, as per a court order.
During American Airlines' Dallas to Bozeman, Montana service on January 3, Fagiana reportedly punched the flight attendant multiple times leading to the aircraft's diversion to Amarillo, Texas. According to FOX San Antonio, Fagiana claimed to the FBI that he had no recollection of the altercation on the plane.
Court documents note that Fagiana admitted to consuming Captain Morgan rum at various bars in Las Vegas prior to the flight. Remarkably, during his hearing, an FBI agent testified that Fagiana confessed to downing six rum and Cokes at the airport in Dallas. This revelation came to light as the agent described Fagiana's shock upon learning of his actions on the aircraft, quoting him, "What type of monster does something like that?"
Fagiana's movements have been restricted by court order, limiting him to leave his Las Vegas home only for church services, court appearances, counseling sessions, and attorney meetings. The presiding judge took into account his mental state at the time of the incident—a point corroborated by Fagiana's recent personal turmoil of dealing with a divorce and the loss of his daughter to suicide in 2021, as well as medication after a knee surgery. Under the conditions of his bond, he is required to undertake drug counseling, grief counseling, and anger management, reported by KOMO News.
In conclusion, the judge ruled that despite the severity of the incident, Fagiana does not pose a danger to the public or exhibit a flight risk. He remains banned from flying with American Airlines following the incident.
