A Tennessee troublemaker got a one-way ticket to the slammer after assaulting a flight attendant mid-air, officials said. The man from Spring Hill, identified as Michael Goins, Jr., 35, landed a six-month prison stint for the in-flight fracas on a Southwest Airlines plane that descended into chaos, culminating in an Austin landing.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, the incident unfolded on March 20, 2022, when Goins' use of colorful language during a phone call agitated a fellow passenger with kids. His response, far from conciliatory, turned aggressive and led him to shove a flight attendant in the upper abdomen inflicting pain.
The courts didn't take kindly to the sky-high violence, dishing out the maximum penalty possible for the simple assault on an aircraft under U.S. jurisdiction. On top of his jail time, Goins has to cough up $650.00 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza from the Western District of Texas didn't mince words: "This prison sentence reflects the seriousness of these types of crimes and promotes respect for the law," he said. "Airline passengers and employees should be able to travel safely, and this violent behavior cannot be tolerated." The SMS-style justice delivered aims to send a no-nonsense message about inflight civility and the price of disruption.
Backing up the tough talk, FBI's Aaron G. Tapp from the San Antonio Field Office underscored the commitment to keeping air travel a no-fight zone. "The FBI is dedicated to ensuring Americans can go to work and travel by plane without the fear of being attacked." With a nod to teamwork, he credited the Austin Police Department for their role in securing the skies and streets.
