An American Airlines flight attendant who described herself as “crazy” and a “train wreck” attacked fellow crew members and U.S. marshals during a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Frankfurt, Germany, last week, according to documents filed in federal court.
The complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte, says Joanne Snow is charged with interference with flight crews and attendants, and with assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer or employee of the United States. Snow was scheduled to appear in court Monday, but the appearance was canceled.
American Airlines spokeswoman Katie Cody said the airline is cooperating with federal law enforcement in an investigation and is working directly with employees. Asked about Snow’s status with the airline, she declined to comment.
In an affidavit, federal air marshal Joseph Fialka says Snow’s fellow flight attendants told him she was acting erratically.
He said they had requested that she not work the flight, but American Airlines management didn’t remove her.
“Before we even departed Charlotte, Snow made several unsolicited comments to me that she was ‘crazy’ and a ‘train wreck,'” Fialka said. “I have worked around Snow several times prior to this. Her behavior on Nov. 23 and 24, 2015, was exceptionally unusual.”
Fialka said that while Flight 704 was en route, one flight attendant told him that Snow slapped her in the face while they were in the aircraft’s middle galley. Around 45 minutes later, he said Snow shoved him several times on his shoulder and arm as he was seated. She then went to the back of the plane, where Fialka said she grabbed the collar of another air marshal.
About 90 minutes after that incident, Fialka said he was talking with another air marshal when Snow became upset and hit him in the chest with an open palm. He said her behavior continued for the rest of the flight, adding that Snow’s fellow attendants were intimidated and unable to perform their duties.
Fialka said Snow and the same crew were assigned to the return flight from Frankfurt to Charlotte on Nov. 25. He said Snow “appeared to be mentally unstable on this flight as well.” He said when the plane reached Charlotte, the crew and the air marshals attempted to seek help for Snow, but she became more agitated and upset.
“I noted that she screamed ‘The Air Marshals are gonna get me!” he said, adding that when Snow tried to get past the passport control officer, he told her she would be detained if she didn’t stop. She was eventually handcuffed and taken to an interview room, but Fialka said her tirade turned physical before she got there.
“She sat down and laid completely on her side,” he said. “When I reached down to lift her back up she kicked me approximately five or six times, striking both my legs.”
Fialka said he needed help from other law enforcement officers to get her to the interview room.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The world is plunging into madness. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
<3 <3 Amen <3 <3 !!! !
Agree with you 100%. Even now, come Lord Jesus!
And they let her continue on to the second flight before she went total crazy?! What is wrong with this picture? She should NOT have been allowed to get on the second flight. She obviously needs some mental help. Did she have a mental breakdown because of something going on in her life?
Her boyfriend or(Girlfriend these days) probably broke up with her !
Pay close attention people… This is how American Airlines operates. It’s only about the $ for them – they do not care about your safety as a passenger beyond their profits.
I was traveling 70% of the time for about 7 years. There was a clear difference between the major airlines.
I flew SWA exclusively whenever possible – which was most of the time. They get it and really do care. It’s also reflected in the fact that they are one of if not the only airline who is profitable – and yet charge the least fees.
That woman should have not flown the last two flights! Thank God she didn’t do something catastrophic over the atlantic.
Was she tested for drugs? IF NOT WHY NOT ?
It sounds like time to send this attendant to a padded room. Airline employees who seem to have mental or emotional issues don’t need to be on a plane. There are too many innocent people on board who don’t deserve to have this type of behavior jeopardizing their safety.
With all the mergers and airlines screwing the public, it was only a matter of time before the employees got it too. Way to go AA; another carrier on the “Do Not Fly” list.
No wonder she was upset……… she works for LUFTHANSA !!!!!!!!!
They Drug Test Truck Drivers Randomly or when Suspicious ?What about Airline employees??
Randomly, yes (definitely pilots, probably rest of crew, too)–not sure they keep test kits around the crew lounges. Even in (anywhere) cases of “for cause” testing, it usually takes a few incidents of suspicious behavior before it’s ordered (remember, this is an “out and back,” basically a single event from a perspective of changes in behavior). But to read the crew’s comments (“exceptionally unusual”) suggests she wasn’t a perfectly average attendant to begin with. I doubt the situation was as acute as being high on something–this was something that was probably brewing for a while.
people are so quick to blame behavior on drugs, but are totally blind to the stress they’re putting on everyone, even though they’re experiencing it themselves: time pressures, performance demands, all the mandatory inclusions in people’s lives–they get to a point where some people just blow, and all the causes point at the victim and say, “it’s not my fault.”
This attendant and the person who scheduled her should both be fired.
American does drug testing after ever incident, and on regular bases. The culture at American changed after Robert Crandall, President and CEO retired. Mr. Crandall had a lot of interaction with employees, and he wanted to see how clean terminals and aircraft were prior to start of the work day. Safety was his concern, and he maintained a good rapport with employees and flight crews.
Screen your airline crew better AA or lose business.
IE who wants to fly AA IF crew goes nutso.