Texas Man Arrested By Fbi, Charged With Assault On American Airlines Flight To Dc

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A Texas man who federal officials said attacked multiple passengers, injuring one, and also threatened and injured a flight attendant on a flight from Kansas to Washington D.C. is facing felony charges in connection to the incident.

According to an American Airlines spokesperson, on March 5, law enforcement responded to American Eagle flight 5574 after its arrival at Ronald Regan National Airport due to "a disruptive customer."

According to the online site Flight Aware, which tracks flight paths, the plane departed Wichita at 5:10 p.m. and landed in D.C. at 8:54 p.m.

According to a court affidavit obtained by CBS News and ABC News, passenger Asterius Rulamka got up right before the flight was landing, approached a flight attendant and threatened him.

“Several passengers, observing the threatening behavior, started filming on their cellular phones,” the affidavit read. Rulamka allegedly then attacked a passenger filming him, "grabbing his arms and verbally berating him." The suspect also took off the passenger's hat and glasses and struck him "in the face near his left eye, causing bruising and a bloodshot eye."

Rulamka also allegedly attempted to hit the flight attendant he previously threatened, the outlets reported, but the attendant was able to move before being hit and suffered a "small laceration to his finger and a broken fingernail."

Rulamka also allegedly said he wanted to speak with President Donald Trump during an FBI interview after the flight landed, the outlets reported.

The defendant was charged with "assault by beating, striking and wounding," the outlets reported, adding he is due in court on Thursday.

It was not immediately known whether he had obtained an attorney in the case.

On Tuesday, the FBI told USA TODAY it could not comment on the case due to the ongoing investigation.

"We do not tolerate violence, and thank our team members for their professionalism," an American Airlines spokesperson told USA TODAY.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.