SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A violent altercation aboard a United Airlines flight has captured attention after a man reportedly assaulted a fellow passenger mid-flight. The unsettling incident occurred on United Flight 2247, which was heading from the San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday, according to federal authorities.
Everett Chad Nelson has been identified as the assailant in an FBI affidavit detailing the incident. The assault took place roughly two hours into the flight when Nelson, seated at 35F near the rear of the aircraft, walked to a lavatory near the front. Upon returning, he suddenly stopped at seat 12F and began punching a sleeping passenger, who witnesses say is deaf and nonverbal.
Sandhya Gupta, a passenger sitting behind the victim, observed the attack and recounted the harrowing scene. The affidavit describes Nelson repeatedly striking the man, whose screams echoed as blood stained Nelson’s jacket and the aircraft’s interior.
The assault reportedly lasted about a minute before another passenger intervened, wrapping Nelson in a restraining hold. Gupta noted that Nelson did not resist this individual, likening his sudden compliance to “powering off a robot.” Meanwhile, a doctor on board provided immediate medical assistance to the injured man, who communicated using sign language.
The affidavit indicates that the victim suffered significant facial injuries, including bruising around the eyes and a cut on the nose. While Nelson showed no signs of injury or retaliation from the victim, he was relocated to another seat post-attack and under close monitoring.
United Airlines commended the prompt actions of the crew and passengers in their official statement, ensuring the flight continued safely to its destination, where it was met by authorities and paramedics.
It was reported that Nelson alleged the victim had attacked him on the street previously, as communicated via texts following the incident. However, the claim has not been substantiated, and the motive behind the assault remains unclear.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the case as it falls within a broader context of nearly 1,740 unruly passenger incidents reported this year, although overall occurrences have decreased since their peak in early 2021.