Shirtless man accused of pinning United flight attendant against ‘plane exit door’ in mid-air rampage

A Washington, D.C. man’s alleged bare-chested attack on a flight attendant led to passengers’ intervention in a mid-air attack, federal officials said.

Kedus Yacob Damtew, 38, was aboard a United Airlines flight June 12, 2024, from Houston to Newark, New Jersey, when he allegedly threatened and assaulted a flight attendant, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey .

Damtew was charged in federal court in Newark on Tuesday with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants by assault or intimidation. He allegedly removed his shirt shortly before landing and “thrusted his bare chest into a flight attendant” before “pinning” the flight attendant “against the exit door” while he yelled threats of physical violence, according to the criminal complaint.

Officials said he also “kicked an airplane oven” amid his rampage.

The 38-year-old from Washington, DC, continued to threaten the flight attendant, officials said. He allegedly followed her to the back of the plane and proceeded to “throw a glass of water” at the worker.

Officials said another flight attendant called for help over the plane’s public address system, prompting several passengers to help secure Damtew in handcuffs bent in the back row of the plane until the flight landed in Newark.

Damtew appeared in D.C. federal court Tuesday before Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh and was released.

He faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

“U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited FBI special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation that led to the indictment,” the release said. He also thanked the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Edward T. Cetnar, for the assistance provided.

United Airlines declined to provide additional comment to Fox News Digital.