A Kansas man has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine for assaulting a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight last year. Julius Jordan Priester, 25, of Wichita, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.
According to court records and statements made during the proceedings, the incident occurred on May 27, 2025. Priester was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 3359, which departed from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, at about 9:30 p.m., heading to Chicago. About thirty minutes to an hour into the flight, Priester stood up, began removing his shirt, and ran toward the back of the plane while yelling for help.
He then grabbed a seated flight attendant and shouted “you’re coming with me,” before forcefully bringing the victim to the ground and attempting to drag them up the aisle. Another flight attendant intervened and helped return Priester to his seat. He continued acting erratically and making incoherent statements.
The captain declared an emergency and diverted the plane back to Bradley Airport. After landing safely, Priester was removed by Connecticut State Police and taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation.
Priester remained in federal custody until July 8, 2025, when he was released on bond. He pleaded guilty on October 1, 2025, to interference with flight crew members and attendants.
“This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Neeraj Patel,” said David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
