BOSTON—A Haitian airline passenger who argued with other passengers over a reclined seat and chased a crew member down the aisle was indicted for interference with flight crew members, the federal government announced.
On Aug, 27, Edmond Alexandre, 60, a Haitian who residing in Paris, France, began to argue with other passengers over a reclined seat on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Paris, which caused the flight to be diverted to Boston, officials said last week.
During the incident, a flight crew member intervened, officials said. In response, Alexandre chased the crew member down the aisle of the plane and grabbed the crew member’s arm.
Federal air marshals subdued Alexandre but the flight had to be diverted to Boston’s Logan International Airport where Alexandre was arrested, authorities said.
Alexandre said he complained to the passenger in front of him that her reclined seat was hurting his legs, according to a report by ABC Television affiliate WCVB 5 in Boston.
Police say when she didn’t move the seat up and the flight attendants didn’t help, Alexandre became irate and grabbed the arm of the flight attendant in the aisle. He was unruly and had to be subdued, the TV report stated.
Alexandre was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for diabetes and was arraigned there for interfering with the operation of an aircraft and flight crew. He was released on personal recognizance.
His defense attorney said it was an overreaction by law enforcement.
The father of five was flying alone after visiting family in Haiti. The incident happened on his connecting flight home to Paris.
In convicted, Alexandre could face up to 20 years in prison, officials said.