Man repeatedly punched sleeping passenger on flight, authorities say

A man on a United Airlines flight repeatedly punched a sleeping passenger, leaving the man bruised and bloodied, in a brazen attack that appeared to have been unprovoked, authorities said.

About two hours into a flight Monday from San Francisco International Airport to Dulles International Airport in Virginia, the man, Everett Chad Nelson, 44, got up from his seat to go to the bathroom, court documents state.

He did not immediately return to his seat and instead walked up the plane to row 12, where he assaulted a sleeping passenger “without notice,” an affidavit prepared by an FBI special agent states.

The attack, which according to the affidavit lasted about one minute, left the passenger bloodied and bruised, with a gash on his nose. Another passenger stepped in to pull Nelson off the victim, who has not been publicly identified, according to court documents.

It is unclear what prompted the attack on the passenger. A lawyer for Nelson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Nelson did not appear to have any injuries, and there was no sign that the sleeping passenger hit him back in defense, according to the affidavit. Other passengers on the flight saw blood on a window and side of the plane, according to court documents.

The injured passenger was treated by a doctor on the flight for abrasions to his face and head, the affidavit states.

United Airlines said in a statement Thursday that the flight, which was carrying 82 passengers and six crew members, had landed safely, and that paramedics and law enforcement officials promptly responded.

“Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers,” the airline said, “one passenger was restrained after becoming physically aggressive toward another customer.”

Nelson was charged with one felony count of assault by beating, striking and wounding, and he appeared in federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge William B. Porter. As of Thursday, Nelson remained in custody and had not entered a plea.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that it was investigating the attack.

The attack was one of more than 1,700 instances of unruly passengers that airlines have reported this year, according to the FAA.