A flight from Miami to Paris was diverted to Boston due to a mid-air brawl that erupted when a man became enraged after a woman in front of him reclined her seat, the second such incident in the US within a week.
The American Airlines' Paris-bound flight was diverted to the Logan International Airport in Boston after a spat over seat reclining, officials said.
Edmund Alexandre, 61, of Paris, was arrested at the airport when the plane was diverted to land here on Wednesday night, said Nicole Morrell, a spokeswoman for State Police.
Alexandre is facing federal and state charges of interfering with the crew on the American Airlines flight.
He became upset when the passenger in front of him reclined her seat, Suffolk prosecutors said in a statement.
When a member of the flight crew attempted to calm him, Alexandre allegedly became even angrier, following the crewman down the plane's aisle and grabbing him by the arm.
An air marshal intervened and handcuffed Alexandre while the plane descended, the Boston Globe reported.
No one was injured, but Alexandre was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for observation and treatment for a pre-existing medical condition, police said.
Alexandre was arraigned yesterday at the hospital, where the judge imposed personal recognizance. Once released from the hospital, Alexandre will go to East Boston District Court for his next hearing on December 29.
Mid-air brawls are becoming common with the latest incident coming after a United Airlines flight from Newark to Denver was diverted to Chicago on Sunday due to a fight.
The brawl erupted when a man set up a gadget that would not let the woman in front of him recline in her seat and she tossed a cup of water in his face.
