UPDATE: The American Airlines flight attendant who attacked crew members on a flight from Charlotte has been denied bond.
Joanne Snow was committed to CMC for mental health treatment after being taken into custody on Monday.
Her trial will take place at 9:30 on Friday.
CHARLOTTE, NC — A flight attendant with American Airlines faces federal charges after attacking crew members and U.S. Marshals on an international flight to and from Charlotte.
An affidavit from Federal Air Marshal Joseph Fialka, assigned the round trip flight, says that Joanne Snow attacked her fellow crew members and several air marshals during an American Airlines flight to Frankfurt, Germany from Charlotte and back.
Fialka, who had worked with Snow prior to the Nov. 23 and 24 flight, said her behavior that day was very unusual. Before the flight he was told by several other flight attendants that Snow was acting irrationally and in a manner that caused concern for the safety and security of the flight.
According to Fialka’s statement, Snow even commented to him before the flight that she was “crazy” and a “train wreck.”
Crew members had requested Snow be removed from working the flight due to her behavior, but American Airlines did not remove her from work status.
A spokesman for American Airlines, Katie Cody, released the following statement regarding the incident:
“We are aware of the incident, along with the subsequent criminal complaint, and take this matter very seriously. We are cooperating fully with federal law enforcement in their investigation, and are working directly with our employees. The safety and security of our customers and employees is always the top priority.”
During the course of the flight 704 to Frankfurt, Fialka says Snow’s erratic behavior escalated with Snow physically assaulting another flight attendant as well as himself and another Air Marshal.
On the return flight 705 to Charlotte on Nov. 25, which included the same crew, Snow’s erratic behavior continued.
Upon landing fellow crew members wanted to seek help for Snow, according to Fialka, but again Snow’s behavior escalated. Fialka says he handcuffed Snow for her own safety as he tried to get her into the interview room.
Once there Fialka says Snow kicked him five or six times before he and other law enforcement officials could restrain her.
Joanne Snow faces charges of assault on an employee or an officer of the United States, interference with flight crew members and attendants.
