Southwest Airlines Flight Diverted to Amarillo After Six Men Disobey Crew Orders
Earlier this week on Monday, a Southwest Airlines flight en route from San Diego to Chicago's Midway Airport was diverted to Amarillo.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office six men disobeyed flight crew orders and SWA Flight 1522 was forced to land at Rick Husband International Airport.
The men were each charged with interference with a flight crew and aiding and abetting.
The six men are all residents of the San Diego area. They are: Saiman Hermez, 19; Jonathan Khalid Petras, 20; Ghazwan Asaad Shaba, 21; Essa Solaqa, 20; Khalid Yohana, 19; and Wisam Imad Shaker, 23.
The six are scheduled to make their initial appearance in federal court in Amarillo Wednesday morning, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clinton E. Averitte, at 9:30 a.m. According to ABC 10 in San Diego, they are part of a soccer team that was traveling for a tournament.
The behavior started when the men initially refused to put their seat backs and tray tables up. Later, when a flight attendant was taking drink orders, they started talking loudly and using profanity. When a flight attendant asked them to quiet down, they responded that they could be as loud as they want.
Then, according to the complaint, when the flight attendant said they could not do that, they lunged forward in their seats and said, “We can do whatever we want on here.”
Later, the men asked to be served alcohol, and, when they were refused, continued their aggressive behavior against the flight attendant.
If the men are convicted of the charges against them, they face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.