A Delta passenger is going to jail for two years after punching a flight attendant and hitting another passenger with a wine bottle

Advertisement
A Delta passenger is going to jail for two years after punching a flight attendant and hitting another passenger with a wine bottle

delta flight 129

Federal Bureau of Investigation via Associated Press

The aftermath of Joseph Hudek IV's outburst on a Delta Air Lines flight in July.

Advertisement
  • A Delta Air Lines passenger who pleaded guilty in February to three counts of assault on an aircraft and one count of interfering with a flight-crew member was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday, The Seattle Times reports.
  • Before a flight from Seattle to Beijing in July, Joseph Hudek IV consumed edible marijuana to help him sleep, according to an affidavit Hudek filed in February.
  • Once the flight was in the air, Hudek reportedly tried to open an exit door and assaulted a flight attendant and another passenger.
  • While Hudek faced up to 20 years in prison, US District Judge John Coughenour said he considered Hudek's age (Hudek is 24), lack of prior criminal offenses, and 300 letters of support sent to the court on his behalf.


A Delta Air Lines passenger who pleaded guilty in February to three counts of assault on an aircraft and one count of interfering with a flight-crew member was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday, The Seattle Times reports.

Before a flight from Seattle to Beijing in July, Joseph Hudek IV consumed edible marijuana to help him sleep, according to an affidavit Hudek filed in February.

In the affidavit, Hudek said he "began to feel dramatically different" after ingesting the edible marijuana.

Once the flight was in the air, Hudek reportedly tried to open an exit door and assaulted a flight attendant and another passenger. Hudek reportedly punched the flight attendant in the face and hit the passenger in the head with a wine bottle. The flight attendant reportedly hit Hudek with two wine bottles.

Advertisement

After one of the bottles broke over his head, "Hudek did not seem impacted ... and instead shouted, 'Do you know who I am? or words to that effect," according to a complaint filed by the FBI.

The passenger reportedly suffered permanent damage to one of his eyes and a brain injury that has impaired his ability to read and write.

Multiple passengers reportedly restrained Hudek before the flight landed.

"I'm deeply sorry for everything that's happened," Hudek reportedly said in court on Tuesday.

While Hudek faced up to 20 years in prison, US District Judge John Coughenour said he considered Hudek's age (Hudek is 24), lack of prior criminal offenses, and 300 letters of support sent to the court on his behalf, according to The Seattle Times.

Advertisement
{{}}