American Airlines Flight Diverted After Shirtless 25-Year-Old Assaults Crew Member

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A Kansas passenger who assaulted a flight attendant and forced a commercial flight to divert back to Connecticut has been sentenced in federal court, according to prosecutors.

Federal authorities said Julius Jordan Priester, 25, of Wichita, was sentenced in Bridgeport to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine for interfering with a flight crew member aboard an American Airlines flight that departed from Bradley International Airport last year.

According to court records, the incident occurred on May 27, 2025, about 30 minutes to an hour after American Airlines Flight 3359 took off from Bradley around 9:30 p.m. The plane was bound for Chicago.

Prosecutors said Priester stood up during the flight, began removing his shirt, and ran toward the back of the aircraft yelling for help. Authorities said he then grabbed a seated flight attendant, shouted “you’re coming with me,” forced the crew member to the floor, and attempted to drag the victim up the aisle.

With assistance from another flight attendant, Priester was returned to his seat, but continued acting erratically and making incoherent statements, according to officials. The pilot declared an emergency and diverted the flight back to Bradley.

After the plane landed safely, Priester was removed from the aircraft by the Connecticut State Police and transported by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation, prosecutors said.

Priester remained in federal custody until July 8, 2025, when he was released on bond. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2025, to interference with flight crew members and attendants.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from state police and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.