US man charged after threatening flight attendant

A California man faces federal charges after a disturbing incident on a Frontier Airlines flight from Orange County to San Francisco.

Charles Angel Salva, 30, from Fremont, appeared in court and was charged with interfering with flight crew members and attendants, as stated in a release from the US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.  

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Orange County, California, when flight attendants noticed that oxygen masks had fallen from an overhead compartment. Upon investigation, it was discovered that Salva had his hand inside the compartment.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, a passenger reported that Salva appeared to be "claustrophobic" and wanted to exit the plane, and his hand got stuck after he pulled the oxygen mask from the compartment. During the incident, Salva reportedly shouted profanities at the flight attendants, making threatening remarks such as, "We are all going to hell," and "This airplane is going down," according to the release.  

Passengers intervened to restrain Salva, who initially broke free from handcuffs and had to be subdued with a seatbelt. During the altercation, Salva kicked one flight attendant about six times in the leg, causing noticeable bruising and swelling that required medical attention. The flight attendant he allegedly tried to choke also sustained minor marks on their neck, the US Attorney’s Office noted.  

Due to safety concerns, the flight attendants chose not to return Salva to his seat, leading to the plane being diverted to Ontario International Airport.   CNN has contacted Salva’s attorney and Frontier Airlines for further comments. If convicted, Salva could face up to 20 years in federal prison. He is currently in the custody of the US Marshals Service, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 26. The FBI and the Ontario Police Department are investigating the case.  

In 2021, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior on flights. That year, passengers faced fines for various incidents, including attempts to enter the cockpit or assaults on flight attendants. 

The highest individual penalty of $40,823 was imposed on a passenger who brought their own alcohol, was intoxicated, attempted to smoke marijuana in the lavatory, and sexually assaulted a flight attendant.