United States

Man Charged With Attacking Flight Attendants, Passenger

A Virginia man flying from Washington, D.C., to Jacksonville, Florida, had to be restrained after attacking another passenger and two flight attendants, authorities said.

The U.S. attorney's office reported Monday that 36-year-old Joseph Michael Sharkey is charged with assault or intimidation of a flight crew. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

A criminal complaint said Sharkey was on a JetBlue flight Sunday when he verbally assaulted another passenger and then placed that passenger in a headlock. According to the complaint, Sharkey then fought with two flight attendants before he could be restrained.

The plane landed safely in Jacksonville, and airport police arrested Sharkey.

A formal detention hearing is set for Wednesday. An after-hours phone message left with the federal public defender's office wasn't immediately returned.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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