Vyvianna Quinonez now faces at least 20 years in prison. American Airlines flight attendants and the Fort Worth-based carrier are filing for federal help from National While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. The assault happened a Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego in May #MakeItRightSWA#MakeItRightSWAFor info and graphics: https://t.co/mfEAcsXSbk#TWU556 pic.twitter.com/vFQfiF1Vvh. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. The attack escalated from there, as captured on video by another passenger. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Secondly - I am dismayed that nobody came to the FA's aid sooner but then nobody ever wants to get involved, yeah? The assault was recorded on another passengers cellphone. "She's been working consistently, living her own life and doing all of the things she's supposed to do. Photo: TWU Local 556 | Facebook. Southwest Airlines flight attendants are set to hold an informational picket Thursday. The union is asking for better working conditions as well as a much-needed system update, Flight attendants protesting outside Dallas Love Field Airport. The She went all force, too.. The airline told Newsweek at the time that the pilot has been placed on leave while an internal investigation is underway and pending the results of charges filed with local authorities. Rather than complying with those basic instructions, the passenger instead began recording the flight attendant with her cell phone, pushing her, standing up, and then punching the flight attendant in the face and yanking her hair. The flight attendant, seen bleeding in the video, lost two We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The federal mediator helps to facilitate discussions but cannot force either side to compromise in deadlocked talks. The union that represents more than 23,000 flight attendants at American Airlines has officially filed for federal mediation in stalled contract talks with the Dallas Her chosen profession, after all, has been a master class in getting disorderly people to do what she wants, wrote The New York Times in a 2019 profile. . Pam and Jeremy Saldas planned to tie the knot in Vegas. The plea agreement said that the flight attendant suffered three chipped teeth, two of which needed crowns, along with bruises and a cut under her left eye that needed stitches. In imposing the longer sentence, Judge Robinson strongly considered the need for general deterrence, Jaclyn Stahl, an assistant U.S. attorney, said in an email. The passenger, Vyvianna Quinonez, allegedly punched and grabbed the hair of the female flight attendant, who lost two teeth and suffered other injuries to her face on the May 23 flight from Aquino-Washington, who appeared via video-conference from her home in El Paso, read from a prepared statement to say she was "deeply sorry for the actions I did before my diagnosis. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. [13] Southwest is the largest operator of the Boeing 737 worldwide. Neither she nor her attorney could be reached for comment Tuesday. WebPros: "Southwest Airlines really does have great people. Of course you do. A flight attendant was physically attacked by a passenger and lost two teeth in the scuffle. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. The entire assault was captured on cell phone (from another passenger), and the flight attendant suffered three chipped teeth, two of which needed crowns. According to the plea agreement, the flight attendant suffered multiple bruises and a cut under one of her eyes that required stitches. I think this is just a situation where probation will be appropriate. Quinonez began recording a video of the flight attendant before assaulting her. He was exceptionally entertaining very helpful, made it fun. The worst part is that all of this happened simply because the flight attendant was trying to get the passenger to comply with regulations. Southwest passenger seen on video punching flight attendant Both airlines have since resumed alcohol sales. 2:22 PM on Mar 3, 2023 CST. Issues that the two sides remain at loggerheads on include sick leave provisions, scheduling agreement and the use of reserve duties. (KTXL) A woman who was accused of punching a Southwest Airlines flight attendant was charged in federal court Wednesday with two felony counts. Jackson "verbally and physically" assaulted a female operations agent shortly after boarding Flight 4976 to New York City's LaGuardia Airport, a Southwest spokesperson told Newsweek. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Alexandra Skores is the breaking business news reporter covering local companies and economic topics. Always keeping an ear close to the ground, Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage is frequently relied upon by some of the biggest names in journalism. 2023 Local Profile is a registered trademark of Community Profile LLC. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. "The passenger was taken into custody by local law enforcement officers, and our Employee was transported to a local hospital, where she remains with multiple injuries in stable condition," the spokesperson said. The video of the assault still sickens me, she added. The assault came amid a surge of unruly and violent behavior by passengers who shoved, struck and yelled at flight attendants. The pattern followed pep rallies organized by the company to boost employee morale after a disastrous holiday season. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Ms. Quinonez, who was sitting in an aisle seat, stood up and punched the attendant in the face multiple times, according to the video. While the plane was preparing for landing, the flight attendant asked Quinonez to put her face mask on correctly, buckle her seat belt, and fold her tray table. Herb is probably shedding a tear right now about whats going on, said Michael Massoni, vice president of Transport Workers Union Local 556 and a Phoenix-based flight attendant for Southwest . With the Make It Right slogan, the union is negotiating several improvements to their working conditions. Glenroy was our main flight attendant. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for a well-known European airline. Vyvianna Quinonez now faces at least 20 years in prison. He was exceptionally entertaining very helpful, made it fun. Southwest Airlines flight attendants pressed executives to fix the technology problems that contributed to the December meltdown Her chosen profession, after all, has been a master class in getting disorderly people to do what she wants, wrote The New York Times in a 2019 profile. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. According to Informational picketing is common during times of contract negotiations, and Southwest respects our Flight Attendants right to conduct such events to express their viewpoints, said Southwest Airlines when contacted for comment on todays protest. Anyone wanna take a stab at why that may be? Vyvianna M. Quinonez was sentenced to 15 months in federal custody on Friday. Prison? Thirdly - Much too lenient a sentence. 10 year ban on flying. Someone did come to her attention almost as fast as you could. Wtf is wrong with you? Quinonez assaulted the flight attendant, chipping her teeth and wounding her under her eye. Yes! Prosecutors said the flight attendant, who was not named in court documents, was taken to a hospital with injuries that included a swollen eye, a bruised arm and a cut under her eye that had to be stitched. The warning was issued after it emerged that some flight attendants were unofficially working to rule, providing minimum levels of service to customers, or even refusing to perform some duties altogether. Tomorrow we are picketing in Dallas! WebTwenty-five years as a United Airlines flight attendant makes Nelson, a rising star in the contemporary labor movement, uniquely suited for labor organizing. The 29-year-old Sacramento woman is prohibited from flying for three years while she is on supervised release and must participate in anger management classes or counseling. Could warmer storms melt Californias snowpack? In a letter dated May 18 and addressed to Judge Robinson, a Southwest representative said that the company wanted the sentence to serve as a deterrent to unruly and violent behavior. She pled guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants. Brenda Marie Aquino-Washington, 22, of El Paso, pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor count of assault in maritime and territorial jurisdiction, for which she could have received a maximum prison term of one year and a fine of $100,000. This is absolutely crazy. What do you make of this Southwest passengers punishment? Within days of the attack, two major airlines, American and Southwest, postponed plans to begin serving alcohol again on flights, in an effort to stop the behavior. According to NBCDFW, these negotiations have been ongoing since 2018, well before the pandemic added stress to the airline industry. 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What happened during the holidays is an outward reflection of what is internally wrong at Southwest Airlines, President and Lead Negotiator of TWU Local 556 Lyn Montgomery told KTNV. JUST IN: The woman who punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in May has been officially charged in federal court with two felonies, including assault and interfering with a flight crew. In that case the sentencing happened a bit faster, as the flight only took place in early April of this year. I was especially impressed when near our landing, he thanked all military and first responders for their service as he received a rousing round of applause from the passengers. "She's been doing well," Collins said. Earlier this year, a passenger punched a Southwest flight attendant aboard a May 23 flight from Sacramento, California, to San Diego. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Maybe I can convince a crew member to assault me. On Sunday, 28-year-old Vyvianna Quinonez was escorted off a Southwest flight at the San Diego International Airport and arrested for battery causing serious CBS13 spoke with a passenger who was on the plane when it happened. Interesting to compare the consequences people's various actions are getting. If you watched the video you would see that someone did come to the help of the flight attendant in the few seconds it took to get out of his seat. The passenger plead guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants. "Our entire Southwest Family is wishing her a speedy and full recovery as we send our thoughts, prayers, and love to her. A video of the attack, which occurred in May 2021, was widely viewed on social media. Your email address will not be published. Livia Albeck-Ripka contributed reporting. A witness claims the flight attendant provoked the incident. Receive the latest airlines news, delivered straight to your inbox. 0:00. Southwest Airlines flight attendants are set to hold an informational picket Thursday. Passengers deplane from a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, California, October 10, 2021. an off-duty Southwest Airlines pilot was accused of assaulting a flight attendant, a California woman said a Southwest flight attendant called police, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The assault happened a Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego in May The union that represents more than 23,000 flight attendants at American Airlines has officially filed for federal mediation in stalled contract talks with the Dallas Fort Worth-based carrier after the two sides hit an impasse in a number of critical areas. The disruptions in December paralyzed travel for more than a week before and after Christmas as about 2 million passengers lost seats on flights. February 27, 2023 alexandra bonefas scott No Comments . A 32-year-old woman was jailed on aggravated assault charges after police alleged she got into a verbal dispute with two Southwest Airlines employees upon boarding a flight in Dallas and punched one in the head with Quinonez suddenly sprang up and started punching the flight attendant with both hands. Two of her three chipped teeth required crowns. Providing access to food and a safe place to rest when traveling on the job. Although the Railway Labor Act has provisions for self-help tactics and strike action, the independent NMB must authorize this action only after mediation attempts have failed and both sides have exhausted a 30-day cooling-off period. For the full year, its 2022 net income was $803 million. A flight Im sure he wants them to make it right as bad as we do.. For our customers and our crews, Southwest Airlines has to Make It Right! Vyvianna Quinonez, 28, has been permanently banned from Southwest Airlines after she went viral for all the wrong reasons when she was filmed in a bust-up with an attendant during a flight from Lawsuit filed against restaurant in death of Granite, Body found in river is that of missing woman, officials, Video: Benches clear in fight at high school hoops, Man found dead in snow in El Dorado County, Snowed-in residents rescued in El Dorado County, Harrison Barnes on Mike Brown winning NBA Coach of, Domantas Sabonis on success of the Kings season,, A drug-resistant infection has health experts on, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The passenger, Vyvianna Quinonez, allegedly punched and grabbed the hair of the female flight attendant, who lost two teeth and suffered other injuries to her face on the May 23 flight from The attendant apologized, according to the source, but Hsu later walked to the galley and allegedly punched her twice. Theres misbehavior, and then theres assaulting a flight attendant to the point that they have their teeth knocked out and require stitches. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They were just like do this, dont do that, dont do this, dont do that. Then even the flight attendant said, Dont touch me, Arai recalled. She should've been hang, drawn and quartered. Creating a modern reserve system that meets the needs of both the operation and employees and ending the unsafe practice of putting flight attendants on 24-hour on-call shifts. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In hindsight, we did not have enough winter operational resilience.. Required. In a statement after the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said, Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs to ensure passenger safety, will not be tolerated., FBISpecial Agent in Charge Stacey Moy also chimed in, stating that the outcome of the case should send a very strong message to air travelers the FBI will vigorously pursue anyone who assaults or interferes with flight crews.. Lmao, what a light sentence. Other passengers aboard the flight intervened to stop the assault. General population? I was especially impressed when near our landing, he thanked all military and first responders for their service as he received a rousing round of applause from the passengers. A California woman who punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant mid-flight and broke her teeth has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.. In a letter filed with the court on May 20, Ms. Quinonez apologized for assaulting the flight attendant. Subscribe to recieve Local Profile email updates every Monday and Thursday. What happened in December is completely unacceptable.. Judge Todd W. Robinson of United States District Court also ordered Ms. Quinonez to be on supervised release for three years after completing her sentence, during which she will be barred from flying on any commercial aircraft. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. According to NBCDFWs report, workers are still using a system built in the 1970s that delays routine procedures like checking in for work or calling out sick for hours. Recommended Stories. ", "So your argument is this is a mental health event and the first time it happened?" The hearing was part of the Committees investigations into the Dec. 2022s system meltdown. The passenger had several prior state and local convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct. The passenger, Vyvianna Quinonez, allegedly punched and grabbed the hair of the female flight attendant, who lost two teeth and suffered other injuries to her face on the May 23 flight from Southwests operations chief Andrew Watterson was questioned by lawmakers in Washington on Feb. 9. All rights reserved. Police said the pilot was cited for alleged assault and battery. Theres some real archaic, not just technologies and not just work rules, but archaic ways of thinking that have to change, added Massoni. Fixing technology issues and other archaic systems that impact passengers and disproportionately impact frontline aviation workers, including flight attendants. WebFederal charges were filed Wednesday against a passenger accused of striking a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in the face during a May flight to San Diego. Dao got millions (allegedly, and allegedly over 100M), what does she get? You probably think the aggressor should get a promotion at work rather than jail time. Several passengers grabbed at Ms. Quinonezs clothes to try to stop her. This picket is the last of three protests organized across the country. Southwest later sent an internal memo to employees reminding them to comply with company guidelines about their conduct. Southwest Passenger Who Punched Flight Attendant Sentenced To 15 Months Prison Time. I think hes shedding a tear and anger toward management of Southwest Airlines right now. Required to have compensation for other passengers. A California woman who repeatedly punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant last year, bloodying her face and chipping three of her teeth, was sentenced on Need to make a statement for future passengers That this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. Last May, 29-year-old Vyvianna Quinonez of California punched a flight attendant in the face on a Southwest flight from Sacramento to San Diego. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Bryant did not ask for jail time for Aquino-Washington but instead asked for the statutory maximum of five years probation. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. today, March 2, off-duty flight attendants represented by the TWU Local 556 union organized an informational picket outside Dallas Love Field airport, demanding improvement of working conditions as well as a modernization of the airlines system. According to a statement released by SWAPA, pilots at the airline had been sounding the alarm about SWAs outdated crew scheduling and IT processes for years but the airline ignored their warnings. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, Herb is probably shedding a tear: Southwest flight attendants picket at Love Field, https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-desire%C3%A9-skores-2125b6154, technology problems that contributed to the December meltdown, Southwest Airlines flight attendants ask for federal mediation for stalled contract, Andrew Watterson was questioned by lawmakers, a fix was coming to the carriers crew scheduling software, facing a Department of Transportation inquiry for potentially overscheduling flights, absence of Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan, union is also pushing for improvements such as boarding pay, Southwest Airlines operations chief faces questions at Senate hearing, American Airlines, flight attendants file for mediation during contract negotiations, Years after North Texas bid for Amazons second headquarters, retail giant halts plan, New Uptown office tower lands second major lease, Mesquite to become the site of new 2,500-home community, Its not like 2009: No signs yet of D-FWs expected apartment building slowdown, 12 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants that have closed in 2023, Funky wine bar Postino has closed in Dallas, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, SMU grad Jack Knox donates $11 million to universitys big capital campaign, Look inside Red Phone Booth, the new speakeasy in The Colony, A day after powerful thunderstorms, North Texas surveys the damage, 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home; suspect in custody, How a Texas districts reaction to school shooting fears highlights discipline concerns, Carrollton man advertised pills on social media to entice teens to buy fentanyl, feds say. WebTwenty-five years as a United Airlines flight attendant makes Nelson, a rising star in the contemporary labor movement, uniquely suited for labor organizing. Most were passengers refusing to follow the federal requirement for passengers to wear face masks while on planes, but nearly 300 involved intoxicated passengers, the FAA said. WebA Southwest Airlines flight attendant was assaulted by a passenger and lost two teeth in the attack last weekend, according to a union president, who complained to the airline's CEO Earlier this month, a California woman said a Southwest flight attendant called police on her while she was flying with her biracial daughter after suspecting her of human trafficking. Things To Do Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. I dont know what makes somebody do such a stupid thing, I honestly dont, Stidham said. A passenger who assaulted a Southwest Airlines flight attendant by punching her in the face was sentenced Friday to 15 months in federal prison. Business Lyn Montgomery, the president of TWU Local 556, outlined some of the disruptive behavior ina letterto Southwest CEO Gary Kelly on Monday. pic.twitter.com/ghUWkBTGMm. Self-help without specific authorization from the NMB is illegal. Port of San Diego Harbor police officials identified the passenger Tuesday as 28-year-old Vyvianna Quinonez and charged her with battery causing serious bodily injury. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The disruptions add more leverage to Southwest Airlines flight attendants contract negotiations, according to Massoni. by: Melanie Townsend, Jonathan Taraya, Nexstar Media Wire. Then Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. In the beginning, they were not arguing. Instead, Quinonez began recording the attendant on her cellphone, pushed her, then stood up and punched the woman in the face and grabbed her hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said. Woman Who Punched Southwest Flight Attendant Gets 15 Months In Jail, The passenger who punched a Southwest flight attendant, Passenger faces 15 months in jail for assault, Pro-Life Ex-Southwest Flight Attendant Wins Lawsuit, Awarded $5.3 Million, Southwest Airlines Launching Miami Flights: Here Are The Routes, Passenger Kicked Off Flight Because Someone Misunderstood His Arabic, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners, Wont be allowed to fly for three years while on supervised release, Must participate in an anger management class or counseling. Southwest has been under fire from travelers since the meltdown when 16,700 flights were canceled in the final days of December during the busy holiday travel period. Should have received 5 years in jail for that. In my 20+ year career at Southwest, I have never seen such an inexcusable, violent assault of a flight attendant by a passenger. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/14/us/southwest-employee-assaulted-dallas-trnd Related: Man Who Sexually Assaulted Woman Mid-Flight Receives Max Prison Sentence, Man Who Sexually Assaulted Woman Mid-Flight Receives Max Prison Sentence, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, Why 4 of Mizzou's seniors have a personal meaning for Dennis Gates, Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal midfielder an 'unbelievable' player. Firstly - I don't want to watch the video - I don't need my opinion of people lowered any further. Dao is making it rain at strip clubs around the globe. HuffPost. On May 23, 2021, near the end of a flight from Sacramento to San Diego, a flight attendant asked Ms. Quinonez to buckle her seatbelt, put up her tray table and wear her face mask properly, prosecutors said. LITTLE ROCK -- A Texas woman who pleaded guilty to involvement in an altercation aboard a Southwest Airlines flight in which a flight attendant's jaw was broken was sentenced Thursday to five years on federal probation by a judge who questioned why the woman was not charged with a felony. Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs to ensure passenger safety, will not be tolerated," U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in a statement after the sentencing. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) A womanstemper reachedan all-time high on a Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego Sunday morning. The two men are then pulled apart by other Southwest Airlines employees. This specific incident was also one of the reasons that Southwest delayed the return of alcohol sales on flights. Lauren Boebert Flunks U.S. Geography As A Southwest Airlines flight attendant who lost two teeth after she was physically assaulted by a passenger on Sunday is among the more egregious examples of Video that quickly went viral on Twitter shows a man walking up to a gate agent and throwing a punch.