The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking legal action against Heather Wells, a passenger on an American Airlines flight who caused chaos by attempting to open the front cabin door mid-flight. Wells, who had been delayed for three hours, began behaving erratically about an hour into the flight from Dallas to Charlotte, biting, kicking, and spitting at staff and fellow passengers. Viral footage of the incident showed Wells screaming and being duct taped to a seat by flight attendants. The FAA fined Wells $81,950 in civil penalties in 2022, and now a lawsuit has been filed on their behalf in San Antonio seeking to collect the money.
According to the lawsuit filed on June 6, Wells appeared to have become agitated after drinking alcohol, running to the front of the plane and grabbing the handle of the front cabin door. She then began speaking incoherently with passengers before moving back toward the main cabin, threatening a flight attendant along the way. Despite being restrained with flex cuffs, Wells managed to strike a flight attendant in the head multiple times before ultimately being restrained with duct tape and flex cuffs and seated. She continued to kick, spit, and attempt to bite and head-butt flight attendants and passengers even after being gagged to stop her screaming outbursts.
When the plane landed in Charlotte, police were waiting on the runway, but Wells continued to behave erratically. She had to be sedated and removed from the aircraft by law enforcement and medical responders. The lawsuit filed by the FAA states that Wells violated federal aviation rules by attempting to access the flight cabin, interfering with and threatening the flight crew, and posing a threat to passengers and staff. Whether criminal charges have been filed by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department was not immediately clear.
The actions of Heather Wells during the flight from Dallas to Charlotte were so disruptive and dangerous that flight attendants had to resort to restraining her with duct tape and flex cuffs. Even after being bound and gagged, Wells continued to display aggressive behavior towards both the flight attendants and fellow passengers. The incident caused significant chaos mid-flight and prompted a legal response from the FAA, resulting in a substantial fine for Wells and a lawsuit filed in San Antonio to collect the money.
The FAA’s lawsuit against Wells highlights the seriousness of her actions on the American Airlines flight, which posed a significant threat to the safety and well-being of those on board. By attempting to open the front cabin door, behaving erratically, and physically assaulting flight attendants, Wells violated federal aviation rules and endangered the lives of the passengers and crew. The legal action taken by the FAA serves as a warning to other passengers about the consequences of disruptive and dangerous behavior on flights, emphasizing the importance of following aviation regulations and respecting the authority of flight crew members.
The lawsuit filed in San Antonio seeks to hold Heather Wells accountable for her unruly behavior on the flight from Dallas to Charlotte, seeking to collect the $81,950 fine imposed by the FAA. Despite being restrained with duct tape, flex cuffs, and sedation, Wells continued to display aggressive and disruptive behavior even after the plane landed in Charlotte. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining order and following safety protocols on flights to ensure the well-being and security of everyone on board. Airlines and aviation authorities take any threats to safety and security seriously, as demonstrated by the legal action taken against Wells by the FAA.
