10.28.21 – Update: Assault on Flight 976

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Update: Assault on Flight 976

Last night, one of our Flight Attendants on Flight 976 from JFK-SNA was physically assaulted and sustained a physical injury. She is currently on her way home after being released from a hospital in Denver. APFA National and Base Leadership along with our Safety Security and EAP Departments have been involved since the incident occurred. We will be reaching out to the crew to ensure they have everything they need to deal with the physical and emotional stress that follows a situation of this magnitude.

APFA has contacted AA Corporate Security and Management to do everything we can to see that this passenger faces criminal charges and is prosecuted. This passenger will not be flying on American again, but that does not address the root problem. We must continue to push the FAA and Department of Transportation to implement a national ‘No-Fly’ list that encompasses all airlines.

Our number one goal right now is to ensure that our Flight Attendant who was attacked and the rest of our crew receive the support they need. We will continue our conversation with the FAA, the Department of Transportation, American Airlines, and the FBI to ensure that becomes a reality.

Our communications department has conducted over thirty media interviews today alone. While we will always seize the opportunity to make the public aware that this behavior is dangerous and life-threatening, we need to keep pushing. We need more police in airports, increased fines for egregious behavior, and stronger, enforceable criminal penalties.

APFA, on every level, will be supporting the crew involved in this incident to ensure the FBI has all the information they need to proceed with prosecution. This is another outrageous attack on Flight Attendants. Please continue to maintain situational awareness, remain vigilant, and attempt to deal with all safety and security issues on the ground.

In Solidarity,