Southwest Airlines passenger who allegedly knocked out flight attendant's teeth in viral altercation faces two felony charges
CBSN
A woman whose violent altercation with a Southwest Airlines flight attendant went viral in May has been charged with two felonies, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday. Vyvianna Quinonez, who is accused of knocking out some of the flight attendant's teeth, was charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and interfering with flight crew members.
Three of the flight attendant's teeth were chipped — two damaged so badly they needed crowns — and a cut under her left eye needed four stitches, the criminal complaint states. She also had a bruised left eye and bruises in the shape of a hand on her forearm and three chipped teeth. The criminal complaint alleges that during the final descent of the Sacramento to San Diego flight, Quinonez unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her tray table down, which is in violation of federal regulations. The flight attendant also asked Quinonez to wear her face mask properly. When the attendant returned to her jump seat, Quinonez started to film her with her cell phone, the complaint said. When Quinonez was approached and questioned, she allegedly pushed the flight attendant and then punched her and pulled her hair, the complaint states.Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.