According to the Department of Justice, a California man went on a violent rampage during a Frontier Airlines flight after spending a weekend at Disneyland with his daughter, allegedly attacking a flight attendant and yelling, “This plane is going to crash!”
Charles Angel Salva, of Fremont, was charged with interfering with flight crew and flight attendants. He appeared in federal court Thursday.
According to court documents, Salva told police he assaulted the flight attendant because he didn't want anyone to know he was a pedophile and was hearing arousing voices.
Salva was on Frontier Airlines Flight 3581, which was scheduled to depart from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Monday and land at San Francisco International Airport.
Shortly after takeoff, as the plane was gaining altitude and below 10,000 feet, a flight attendant noticed that the oxygen masks, which had been lined up in a row down the center of the plane, had fallen out of the overhead bin and that Salva's hand had become trapped in the bin.
A passenger reportedly told investigators that Salva appeared to be claustrophobic and desperate to get off the plane.
Salva allegedly began shouting obscenities at the flight attendant.
According to Appearing before the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, Salva shouted, “We're all going to hell!” and “This plane is going to crash!”
Flight attendants tried to stop him, but he reportedly ran towards the rear of the plane.
Salva is said to have attempted to strangle the flight attendant, leaving two small marks on the victim's neck. Daily Mail “I'm going to strangle this woman,” Salva reportedly said while choking the airline employee.
The erratic passenger then “forcefully” pushed another flight attendant away and threatened to kill everyone, according to the affidavit.
Passengers helped restrain Mr. Salva, who allegedly escaped from the flex cuffs and had to be restrained with a seat belt.
The Justice Department said Salva kicked the flight attendant in the leg about six times, causing bruising and swelling that required medical treatment.
The plane had to be diverted to Ontario International Airport due to the alleged violence.
Once the plane landed, Salva was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The passenger told investigators she was on a flight returning to San Francisco with Salva and their 3-year-old daughter after a weekend at Disneyland. Fox News notedCourt documents also state Salva left his daughter with an unnamed passenger and her family on Sunday before disappearing, Fox News added. An unnamed passenger called Anaheim police to say Salva had been found covered in sewage at a liquor store, Fox News reported.
The news agency added that Salva told investigators, “I'm a child molester,” and that he had sexually abused his 3-year-old daughter multiple times before he lost custody. He told police he tried to press the emergency button to crash the plane because he thought everyone was trying to get him to admit his guilt. According to court documents, Salva told police he assaulted the flight attendant because he didn't want anyone to know he was a pedophile and that he had heard provocative voices. Salva also reportedly admitted to taking ecstasy before boarding the plane.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the professionalism of our flight crew and the other passengers who assisted during the accident, as well as to local and federal law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California for their efforts in seeking justice,” Frontier Airlines said in a statement.
The FBI and Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation.
If convicted, Salva faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Do you like Blaze News? Bypass censorship and subscribe to our newsletter to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up here!
