VIDEO: passenger physically assaults flight attendant, held; banned for life by airlines

An American man was arrested at the Los Angeles airport for punching a flight attendant in the back of his head after an argument.

As per a report by The Washington Post, the 33-year-old passenger identified as Alexander Tung Cuu Le, a resident of California, was flying to Los Angeles from Los Cabos in Mexico on an American Airlines flight 377.

The episode began 20 minutes after Flight 377 left Los Cabos airport. Citing an affidavit filed by the FBI, the outlet said that Mr Le grabbed a flight attendant's shoulder as he was providing food and beverages and asked for coffee. He then walked to the front of the plant and sat in an unoccupied row near the first-class cabin, according to the affidavit. When another flight attendant asked Mr Le to return to his seat, he closed both of his fists and assumed a "fighting stance", the FBI said. The flight attendant then decided to report the behaviour to the pilot and turned around after which Mr Le attacked him, The New York Times reported.

The video shot by a fellow passenger on board shows the flight attendant turning back and walking away when the accused man runs up in the aisle and punches him in the head.

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Co-passengers, evidently shocked at the turn of event were heard crying 'Oh my god!' in the 33-second-long video.

According to The New York Times, the California man has been charged with one count of interference with flight crew members, and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.