An incident on a Frontier Airlines flight has led to the arrest of Charles Angel Salva, a 30-year-old man from Fremont in Alameda County, following allegations of assault against flight attendants. The arrest, confirmed by the Justice Department, was based on a federal criminal complaint that charged Salva with interference with flight crew members and attendants after his actions prompted an unscheduled landing in Ontario for the safety of those on board.
The disturbance took place on Monday, on a flight that had left John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, bound for San Francisco International Airport, when flight attendants noticed the oxygen masks were improperly deployed while the aircraft was climbing under 10,000 feet, Salva was discovered with his hand in the overhead compartment, which led to the altercation during which he reportedly became agitated and displayed aggressive behavior toward both passengers and crew, at one point allegedly attempting to choke a flight attendant and threatening to "kill everybody."
According to an affidavit cited by the Justice Department, Salva's outburst included yelling obscenities and alarming statements such as "We are all going to hell," and "This airplane is going down!” amid his physical confrontations, which resulted in a passenger assisting the attendants and using a seatbelt to restrain Salva after he broke out of flex cuffs; during the episode, one flight attendant sustained injuries that required medical attention.
Salva was arrested on Wednesday and made his initial appearance in United States District Court in Riverside, he's facing a potential 20-year sentence in federal prison if convicted, the investigation into the occurrence is a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Ontario Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office handling the prosecution, details were shared in a news release that Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy from the U.S. Attorney's Office disseminated.
Full details of the incident and subsequent legal proceedings against Salva can be accessed through the Justice Department's official press release. It is worth noting that every defendant, including Salva, is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, as per the standard legal principle that guides the American justice system. For any further updates on this case or for contact information, refer to the aforementioned press release provided by the Justice Department.
