A man has been charged following an incident on a United Airlines flight where he allegedly delivered an unprovoked beating to a fellow passenger. The incident occurred on Flight 2247 from San Francisco to Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday.
According to a criminal affidavit, Everett Chad Nelson was returning from the bathroom about two hours into the flight when he stopped at seat 12F and began to physically assault a sleeping male passenger. The affidavit claims that Nelson struck the unidentified man “repeatedly in the face and head until blood was drawn,” with the attack lasting approximately one minute. The documents state that the assault was entirely unexpected and that there was “no indication” the victim attempted to defend himself.
United Airlines expressed gratitude towards its crew and fellow passengers for their swift action in restraining Nelson. The airline confirmed that the flight landed safely and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement upon arrival.
Witness accounts detail the severity of the attack. Sandhya Gupta, a passenger seated behind the victim, recounted waking up to find Nelson violently punching the man. She described the assault as “rapid-fire punching” and noted that it was far from a typical fight, emphasizing the extreme nature of the violence. Gupta observed that the victim did not retaliate but instead screamed in distress during the assault.
As the beating continued, two other passengers intervened to help stop the attack. Gupta recounted how Nelson eventually ceased his assault, becoming limp and silent before moving to a different seat at the front of the plane. He remained passive until the flight landed. A person claiming to be a doctor on board provided first aid to the victim, who was bleeding, with blood reportedly splattered across the nearby window and seats.
The FBI is currently investigating the incident, which adds to a growing list of unruly passenger incidents reported on commercial flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that over 1,700 such incidents have been documented in 2024 alone. The agency pursues legal enforcement against passengers who assault or threaten airline crew members, with potential civil penalties reaching up to $37,000 per violation.
Court records indicate that Nelson is being represented by a public defender, and CNN has reached out to that attorney for further comment.