Charges In Midair Fight; Pregnant Woman Shoved
Thursday, April 14, 2005
WBAL Radio and The Associated Press
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DENVER (AP) - A traveler was charged with assault and interfering with an airplane crew after allegedly hitting his traveling companion and then shoving a pregnant flight attendant who intervened, prompting the plane to make an unscheduled landing.
Montgomery Joe Carter, 37, was on a United Airlines flight on Tuesday from Washington to Las Vegas, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday. He and another man were going to Las Vegas to celebrate their six-month relationship.
Carter, who had allegedly been drinking, became irate during the flight and began hitting his partner, so the flight crew separated the men, the affidavit said.
Carter then allegedly shoved a pregnant flight attendant and pushed another attendant, the affidavit said. A third flight attendant blocked the path to the cockpit with a drink cart, enlisting the help of two passengers, it said.
The plane stopped in Denver and Carter was arrested. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the federal charges. U.S. attorney's spokesman Jeff Dorschner said he didn't know if Carter had a lawyer.
