A federal grand jury in Seattle has indicted a Tampa man over a July 6th incident on a Delta Airlines flight that had just left Seattle for China.
The indictment says 23-year-old Joseph Daniel Hudek IV interfered with the flight crew and assaulted two of them and a passenger. It took several passengers, along with the attendants, to subdue Hudek, who tried to open the emergency exit door mid-flight.
Before takeoff, a complaint states that Hudek asked for a beer. He did not have any other alcoholic drinks during the flight and "exhibited no signs of intoxication or impairment."
As the aircraft made the return back to Seattle due to the altercation, the flight attendants and several passengers attempted to calm and contain Hudek. The scuffle got so chaotic that Hudek allegedly punched one of the crew members in her face and hit a passenger over the head with a wine bottle.
Hudek then tried to open the exit door again.
According to the complaint, when another passenger stepped in to help, Hudek allegedly hit the man several times. A flight attendant was eventually able to grab two wine bottles and hit Hudek over the head with them, breaking one of the bottles.
Hudek will be arraigned next Thursday in Seattle. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.