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A 30-year-old man from Fremont, California, Charles Angel Salva, is facing federal charges after allegedly attempting to choke a flight attendant and threatening to kill everyone on board a Frontier Airlines flight. The incident resulted in the flight being diverted to Ontario International Airport in California.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, the airplane was climbing shortly after takeoff from Orange County, California, when flight attendants noticed oxygen masks in one of the plane's rows were out of the overhead compartment. Salva had his hand in the overhead compartment and appeared to be claustrophobic, according to a passenger's statement to law enforcement.
During the incident, Salva allegedly yelled obscenities at flight attendants and made threatening statements. Passengers helped restrain Salva, who managed to break out of flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt. He allegedly kicked one flight attendant approximately six times in the leg, causing apparent bruising and swelling, and left small marks on the neck of the flight attendant he allegedly attempted to choke.
The flight attendants did not feel safe trying to put Salva back in his seat, leading to the flight's diversion. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the flight landed safely in Ontario International Airport around 6 p.m. after the crew reported a passenger disturbance.
Salva made an initial court appearance and was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants. If convicted, he could face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and his preliminary hearing is set for September 26. The FBI and the Ontario Police Department are investigating the incident.