A passenger who violently assaulted an American Airlines flight attendant mid-flight — slamming the crew member to the cabin floor and forcing an emergency return — has been sentenced to probation, avoiding any additional jail time despite federal prosecutors pressing for incarceration.
The case, involving 25-year-old Julius Jordan Priester, is renewing attention on how U.S. courts punish unruly passenger incidents, particularly those that federal law treats as among the most serious aviation offenses because of the direct threat to flight safety.
Court Hands Down Probation Sentence in Federal Case
Priester was sentenced Tuesday in a Connecticut district court after pleading guilty to one count of interfering with flight crew members.
The charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
Judge Stefan R. Underhill sentenced Priester to one year of probation and imposed a $500 fine. The court deferred restitution to a later hearing.
Priester avoided any additional jail time, despite prosecutors’ urging incarceration to reflect the severity of the offense and to promote respect for both the law and flight attendants as safety-critical professionals.
Assault on Flight AA3359 Triggers Emergency Return
The assault occurred on May 27, 2025, aboard American Airlines flight AA3359 from Hartford, Connecticut, to Chicago O’Hare. The flight was operated by Envoy Air, a wholly owned regional subsidiary of the Fort Worth-based carrier.
Approximately 30 minutes into the two hour flight, Priester suddenly stood up from his seat near the rear of the aircraft, removed his shirt, and began shouting “Help me!” before grabbing a flight attendant a few rows behind him.
An FBI affidavit states that Priester seized the crew member by the collar, threw him to the floor, and pinned him down using full force.
The flight attendant screamed for assistance as a second crew member intervened and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
That crew member later told investigators that Priester appeared to be using all his strength to restrain the victim and expressed fear that he might attempt to reach the rear of the aircraft and interfere with the doors.
Passengers assisted in pulling Priester off the flight attendant. The pilots declared an emergency and immediately turned the aircraft back to Bradley International Airport, where law enforcement officers were standing by upon landing.
Prosecutors Warned of Serious Safety Risks
Federal prosecutors described Priester’s actions as extremely serious and warned they could have resulted in grave consequences for passengers and crew.
Federal law considers interfering with flight crew members one of the most serious aviation offenses because it directly impacts flight safety.
Still, the court opted for probation instead of incarceration, a decision that highlights the continued debate over whether penalties in such cases are strong enough to deter future violence in the air.
According to PYOK, the outcome reflects a broader pattern in which even severe in-flight assaults often result in limited custodial penalties.
Cannabis Edible Cited as Possible Contributing Factor
Priester admitted to investigators that he had consumed a cannabis edible before the flight, which authorities believe may have contributed to his erratic behavior.
He was taken into custody following the incident and remained detained until July 2025, when he was released on remand while court proceedings continued.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Priester experienced significant personal trauma following the deaths of his parents and had struggled with alcohol and drug use. However, they maintained that these factors did not diminish the seriousness of the offense or the danger posed to the aircraft.
Prior Violent Conviction Cited in Sentencing Argument
Court records show that Priester has a prior conviction for violent assault with a deadly weapon.
In 2023, he pulled a gun on a friend and fired at a vehicle following a dispute that began after he vomited in the friend’s car.
Prosecutors cited this history as evidence of a pattern of violent behavior, reinforcing their position that a custodial sentence was necessary to protect the public and deter similar conduct aboard commercial aircraft.
Sentencing Disparities Highlighted by Similar Delta Case
Despite the high statutory penalties for interfering with flight crew members, custodial sentences remain rare, even in cases involving physical violence.
Earlier this month, a separate case resulted in a notably harsher outcome. A federal judge sentenced Mario Nikprelaj, a 24-year-old from Shelby Township, Michigan, to 18 months in prison after he threatened to kill an 80-year-old flight attendant on Delta Air Lines (DL) regional flight DL-3612 from Omaha, Nebraska, to Detroit, Michigan.
During the incident, Nikprelaj poked the elderly crew member in the chest while making death threats.
In that case, the court imposed a stiffer sentence than prosecutors requested, underscoring how jurisdictions punish similar in-flight offenses inconsistently.
