Texas man charged with assaulting Delta flight attendant on flight from Puerto Rico

Texas man charged with assaulting flight attendant

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Texas man has been charged with assaulting a flight attendant in a disturbance that led the captain to make an emergency return to Puerto Rico.

The FBI says 38-year-old Anthony David Watson of Fredericksburg, Texas, walked to the rear of the Delta Air Lines plane, suggested the attendant enter the lavatory with him and then punched her in the face when she yelled for help.

Monday’s statement says Watson also punched a passenger who intervened before he was restrained by passengers and handcuffed.

The scuffle came 20 minutes into an Atlanta-bound flight Friday.

The charge against Watson carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Bail was set at $100,000. It was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer.