Northern California Man Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging He Assaulted Attendants on Flight Bound for San Francisco

RIVERSIDE, California – An Alameda County man has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging he assaulted flight attendants shortly after his flight from Orange County to San Francisco took off, causing the flight to divert to Ontario for the safety of passengers and crew, the Justice Department announced today.

Charles Angel Salva, 30, of Fremont, is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants.

Salva, who was arrested on Wednesday, is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Salva was on a Frontier Airlines flight bound from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana destined for San Francisco International Airport on September 9. Shortly after takeoff, while the airplane was climbing and under 10,000 feet, flight attendants saw that the oxygen masks in one row of the middle of the aircraft were out of the overhead compartment. Flight attendants investigated and discovered that Salva had his hand in the overhead compartment.

One passenger later told law enforcement that Salva appeared claustrophobic and seemed like he wanted to get off the plane. Salva then pulled down the oxygen mask from the overhead compartment, getting his hand stuck there in the process before a passenger helped him free his hand.

Salva allegedly began yelling obscenities at flight attendants and said, “We are all going to hell,” and “This airplane is going down!” Salva then grabbed at fellow passengers and ran towards the rear of the airplane when flight attendants tried to restrain him. Salva allegedly then attempted to choke a flight attendant, leaving two small marks on the victim’s neck.

Salva then pushed another flight attendant and said he was going to kill everybody, the affidavit alleges. Passengers helped restrain Salva, who broke out of flex cuffs and had to be restrained by a seatbelt. During the incident, Salva kicked one flight attendant approximately six times in the leg, causing apparent bruising and swelling, which required medical attention.

The flight was diverted to Ontario International Airport because the flight attendants did not feel safe trying to put Salva back in his seat.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, Salva would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The FBI and the Ontario Police Department are investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.