And that is exactly how the sentencing played out today! If your body is being physically attacked, you have a right to defend yourself. She knowingly chose the path she now walks and there is zero, I mean zero excuse to assault anyone simply for performing their required work duties. Her head assaulted my fist! The attack left the flight attendant with a bloody mouth and face. I am so excited tha, I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair. SAN DIEGO Authorities on Tuesday publicly identified a woman who allegedly attacked a flight attendant last weekend on a plane bound for San Diego, She was later released after posting $35,000 bail. Two people were detained near the scene, deputies said. Perhaps they are nothing but a pathetic last-ditch attempt to fight jail time, but if true, do provide better context of what happened. Passengers on the flight from Sacramento to San Diego heard arguing between the flight attendant at the passenger, but weren't ready for what happened next. Heres anothers account from the same source: https://fox40.com/news/local-news/local-travelers-share-moments-before-flight-attendant-was-punched-on-southwest-flight/. At some point you need to cater to your audience and sprinkle in some comedy. Sonya Lacore, Southwest's vice It garnered the biggest fine, a $32,000 penalty. . Shes facing felony charges that could put her in prison. We got to the point to, where were like, should we start videoing this? Vyvianna Quinonez brutally attacked a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in May in a story that made headlines around the world. Witness video provided to The Sacramento Bee showed Quinonez punching the female flight attendant in the side of the face. We will pursue criminal charges against those who violate the law both at the airport and aboard aircraft while in flight. Grossman commended the prosecution team, the agents and officers from FBI and San Diego Harbor Police, as well as the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration for their excellent work on this case. Manner added that the flight attendant was screaming at Quinonez, which triggered the situation by unnecessarily raising tensions. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel. The Federal Aviation Administration said last month its zero-tolerance policy for dealing with unruly passengers will become permanent. Her sentencing hearing has now been re-scheduled to May 27, 2022. another update on an of the story of we have been following. She admitted that she stood up and assaulted the flight attendant by punching her in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbing her hair, according to a December news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Diego. Sorry but absolutely none of me feels sorry for this piece of human trash. Still comes back to friends dont let friends fly Southwest. Attendant Allegedly Attacked By Passenger On Southwest Flight From Sacramento. But Quinonez, now arraigned in federal court, claims she was only acting in self-defense. Seems like a lot of bending over backwards to make excuses for someone who clearly lacks common sense (no mask, stands up as soon as plane touches down?). She was booked into the Las Colinas Detention Facility, San Diego Harbor Police told KUSI. Quinonez was arrested by local police after the plane landed at the San Diego airport. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Her original agreement was for 4 months. The flight attendants left eye was bruised and swollen; she sustained a cut under her left eye, requiring three stitches; and she had a bruise in the shape of fingers on her right forearm. A California woman who admitted punching a Southwest Airlines flight attendant after being asked to wear a mask and fasten her seatbelt was sentenced to 15 months in prison Friday and ordered to pay more than $30,000 in fines and restitution, officials said. A male passenger sitting nearby jumped between Quinonez and the flight attendant, instructing Quinonez to sit down. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. The passenger repeatedly ignored standard inflight instructions and became verbally and physically abusive upon landing. Vyvianna M. Quinonez was charged in federal court with two felony counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and interference with flight crew members and attendants. Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Vyvianna Quinonez of Sacramento, 28, admitted that while on a May 23 flight from Sacramento to San Diego, she struck a Southwest Airlines flight attendant identified only as S.L. Flight attendants are first responders in the sky who are focused on safety. Southwest's flight attendants union, Transport Workers Union Local 556, was the first to report the altercation to Southwest CEO Gary Kelly wrote USA Today. Vyvianna Quinonez was ordered to pay more than $30,000 in fines and restitution for the fight that started after she was asked to wear a mask and fasten her seatbelt. Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord. It adds three of the woman's teeth were chipped, two of which had to be replaced with crowns. Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -, One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure, Next stop ARN! Federal Office Building Official websites use .gov ' Manner did not know Quinonez. According to a Department of Justice release, the attendant was hospitalized with injuries including three chipped teeth and a cut that required stitches. We have people cuffed for walking a dog without a leash. Dont ever assault ANYONE, ANYWHERE, unless you want to go to jail. Someone can identify the perp even though she is wearing a mask. Play it now! In the first altercation, she had said that she was going to call the captain. A Florida woman was arrested and forced off a Delta flight after allegedly refusing to wear a mask and spitting at other passengers, which was caught on camera. only she might get surprised, maybe missing some of her teeth. Quinonez refused, then pushed the woman, according to the document. deescalation is always the best policy, but authority figures like the flight crew are not obligated to ignore the federal flight regulations in order to placate an otherwise non compliant passenger., Sacto-San Diego-Dallas-Miami Can we go any further in the US? Law enforcement officials were requested to meet the flight upon arrival, and the passenger was taken into custody., Susan Marie Stidham, who was a passenger on the flight, wrote on Facebook, the attack occurred, simply because she was asked to put her seatbelt back on. That needs to be determined, although, everyone should have zero confidence in the court system/rubber stamp juries to adjudicate anything fairly and justly. Speaking of a lack of education. Like it or not, those are the rules and she is in charge. Get your hands off of me. Why is there only ONE witness backing up this defendants story? Port of San Diego Harbor Police escorted Quinonez off the plane before it taxied to the gate. I cant imagine a FA putting their hands on a seated passenger. During the flights final descent, Quinonez failed to comply with federal rules and regulations. Either that or, 20 years in prison. Sacramento sheriffs detectives investigating, How much rain and snow fell in Northern California storm? The sentence Vyvianna Quinonez, 29, received from U.S. District Judge Todd Robinson is more than what prosecutors had sought, which was four months in Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs to ensure passenger safety, will not be tolerated. Three of the flight attendants teeth were chipped, resulting in two teeth later being replaced by crowns. But its not easy money, Dilbert cartoonist canceled for being racist is how the American market system works | Opinion, Man arrested after striking officer with their own Taser holster, Galt police say, Latest car sideshow in Sacramentos Meadowview area ends in arrest, others cited, Half of Sacramentos violent crime is centered in 3 areas. . Its funny you call us HS dropouts Many airlines prefer candidates that have a college degree, and you cant even work for most without a HS degree (or equivalent). A few days after the assault, Southwest Airlines said it had banned Quinonez for life. We use cookies. There have been several other instances, often captured on video, of airline assaults or disruptive anti-maskers on planes over the past year. Michelle Manner told the news station, Vyvianna had said to her three times, that we could hear, Get off of me. Vyvianna Quinonez, 28, was arrested Sunday morning and allegedly knocked out two of the flight attendant's teeth during the incident. The cut required four stitches, according to the filing. Quinonez was initially charged in federal court last September with one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of interfering with a flight crew, both felonies. Flight attendants are the authority in the cabin. In a letter filed with the court, the Vice President of Inflight Operations for Southwest Airlines stated that Quinonez created a situation onboard Flight 700 that jeopardized the entire flight and created an unsafe environment. She explained that Quinonezs actions negatively impacted our workgroup beyond description . The agency does not have the authority to prosecute violators, but is able to impose fines of up to $37,000 per violation. The rate of incidents involving violent or unruly passengers has declined in recent months by nearly 50 percent - since all-time-highs in early 2021, after the FAA first introduced its Zero Tolerance policy against unruly passengers. Federal charges carry penalties that are far usually far more severe than those levied by state courts. Wow. I have been in contact with her, and we will continue to provide her the support she needs,'' she said. Being snotty, snarky and perhaps unreasonable: yes. She was not wearing her seat belt, pulled her tray table down, and was not wearing her facemask properly. As an attorney with a long history of defending people charged with federal crimes, allow me to provide a bit of insight here To put it concisely: Quinonez is screwed. We have cops restraining people for traffic ticket warrants and for driving with a suspend license. Our story from Sept. 3 follows: A California woman is facing two felony charges after allegedly punching a flight attendant, who was left bloodied with three broken teeth. Once the flight attendant put her hands on this woman (with the intent to subdue or force), a physical response by the woman was appropriate. How close will snow get to Sacramento this time? SAN DIEGO (AP) A Sacramento woman who punched a flight attendant in the face during a flight, breaking her teeth, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge, authorities said. Prosecutors said the defendant blamed her DUI on a recent gastric bypass surgery. But I will say this: if I was judge or jury and it was proven that the flight attendant was screaming and pushing the passenger first, Quinonez would not be receiving as harsh a sentence. We dont know all the facts, but Ill trust the account of a disinterested 3d party over either SWA or the defendants account. Gov. A persons hands being restrained is dangerous for that person. Even if the flight attendant did try to push Quinonez back into her seat, striking her repeatedly is not a proportional response or valid self-defense. Here are the latest totals. "According to witnesses,an altercation between a passenger and a flight attendant had taken place during the flight,'' the police department said in a statement. Vyvianna Quinonez, 29, was also ordered by a federal judge on Tuesday to pay some $33,000 in restitution and fines and was banned from flying for three years With video evidence clearly implicating Quinonez, she admitted that she stood up and assaulted the flight attendant by punching her in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbing her hair, pleading guilty to assault. She was very unprofessional. Initial reports suggested the that after Southwest Airlines flight 700 from Sacramento (SMF) to San Diego (SAN) landed, Quinonez removed her seatbelt and stood up. Authority to prosecute violators, but is able to impose fines of to. Globalfirstlounge at # ord 4 months anti-maskers on planes over the past year banned Quinonez for life @... Colinas Detention Facility, San Diego airport: //fox40.com/news/local-news/local-travelers-share-moments-before-flight-attendant-was-punched-on-southwest-flight/ at some point need! 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