Flight Attendant Attack: Irvine Man, 20, Charged With Assault, Interference Of Flight Crew

IRVINE, CA —A 20-year-old Irvine man flying first class was arrested Monday on federal charges of attacking a flight attendant during a trip from New York bound for Santa Ana. That flight was diverted to Denver after the incident.

Brian Hsu of Irvine was charged with interference with a flight crew and assault, according to federal prosecutors in Colorado.

During a brief court appearance in Santa Ana on Monday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Autumn Spaeth set Hsu's bond at $10,000. He was expected to post that and be released from custody. He is next expected in federal court in Denver on Nov. 15.

Hsu was represented by Andrea Jacobs of the Federal Public Defender's Office, but the defendant said he intended to hire a private attorney going forward.

Spaeth restricted his travel to Rhode Island for unspecified medical care, Southern California and Denver. He won't be traveling on American Airlines, however, as the airline announced that Hsu would no longer be permitted to fly on American.

Hsu will need permission to travel elsewhere, but Jacobs indicated that he wants to return to school in New York in the spring.

The defendant's mother, Julia Yu, declined to comment after the hearing. She was on the plane with him at the time and is a witness in the case.

Hsu is accused of assaulting the flight attendant Wednesday aboard an American Airlines flight, which took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport and was bound for John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana before it had to be diverted to Denver International Airport, prosecutors said.

When that plane was somewhere over the state of Ohio, Hsu is said to have, after some form of disagreement with the flight attendant, left his seat and punched the flight attendant twice, according to prosecutors.

Passengers and crew took him into custody on the plane according to multiple cell phone pictures and videos posted to social media. According to pictures, duct tape was used to restrain him until landing in Denver.

American Airlines issued a statement at the time saying, "Acts of violence against our team members are not tolerated by American Airlines."

"The charges in the criminal complaint are allegations," Matthew Krisch, acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado said in a release. "(Hsu) is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

According to the FAA, American Airlines Flight 976, an Airbus 321 plane landed without incident around 6:37 p.m. local time. The FAA was investigating.

Several witnesses initially told reporters that the attack erupted over a dispute about wearing a mask. Still, media outlets in Denver reported that the flight attendant had accidentally bumped into Hsu — traveling first-class at the time— and apologized.

Hsu allegedly left his seat, walked to the airplane's galley and punched the flight attendant twice before returning to his seat, according to reports.

American Airlines stated at the time saying, "Acts of violence against our team members are not tolerated by American Airlines."