The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking legal action against an American Airlines passenger who caused a disturbance on a flight by attempting to open the front cabin door mid-flight. The incident, which occurred on July 6, 2021, involved a 34-year-old woman from San Antonio named Heather Wells.
Wells, described as behaving erratically, bit, kicked, and spat at flight attendants and fellow passengers during a flight from Dallas to Charlotte, North Carolina. The disruptive behavior took place about an hour into the flight, which had been delayed for three hours before departing at midnight.
Video footage of the incident, shared on social media, captured Wells screaming and causing a commotion as the flight landed in Charlotte. Following the incident, the FAA imposed a record $81,950 fine on Wells in 2022.
Subsequently, the FAA filed a lawsuit through U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza in San Antonio to collect the civil penalties from Wells. The lawsuit, filed on June 6, revealed that Wells had attempted to open the front cabin door after consuming alcohol on the flight.
Despite being restrained by flight attendants using duct tape and flex cuffs, Wells continued to exhibit aggressive behavior, including kicking, spitting, and attempting to bite and head-butt the crew and passengers. Law enforcement officials had to sedate Wells upon landing in Charlotte to remove her from the aircraft.
The lawsuit alleges that Wells violated federal aviation regulations by trying to access the flight cabin, threatening the crew, and endangering the safety of passengers and staff. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department is yet to confirm if criminal charges will be filed against Wells.
