A man from Texas, Asterius Mutayoba Rulamka, was arrested after allegedly attacking a flight attendant and a passenger on an American Airlines flight. The incident took place on March 5 during Flight 5574 from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. The FBI was contacted by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department regarding the disturbance.
According to an FBI report, Rulamka left his assigned seat and walked to the back of the plane, where he interacted with a flight attendant. He then sat down and began yelling profanities. Some passengers started recording the incident on their phones. When Rulamka noticed one passenger filming, he allegedly became aggressive, grabbing the passenger’s arms and verbally attacking him. The FBI report also states that he took the passenger’s hat and glasses and struck him near his left eye, causing bruising and redness.
Rulamka also attempted to hit the flight attendant he had previously confronted. However, the flight attendant managed to move away, but he still suffered a small cut on his finger and a broken fingernail.
The situation escalated further when Rulamka started running up and down the aisles of the plane. Fortunately, three passengers and flight attendants were able to restrain him and secure him in a seat near his original spot until the plane landed.
As the flight approached Ronald Reagan National Airport, Rulamka allegedly made several statements, including that he had come to Washington, D.C., to meet former President Donald Trump. When asked why he wanted to meet Trump, he simply replied that he was “mad.”
Authorities later discovered that Rulamka had a Texas driver’s license, but a background check showed that the Department of Homeland Security had identified him as a non-immigrant who had overstayed his visa since 2014. Immigration proceedings were still pending against him.
American Airlines released a statement regarding the incident, saying, “We do not tolerate violence, and we thank our team members for their professionalism.”
Rulamka was officially charged with “assault by beating, striking, and wounding” under U.S. law. His court hearing is scheduled for March 13. At this time, no attorney information has been listed for him.
This incident follows other recent cases of disruptive behavior on flights, highlighting the challenges airlines and passengers face when dealing with unruly individuals mid-flight. The authorities continue to investigate, and further legal actions may be taken based on the findings.
