Passenger Arrested For Disrupting Transatlantic Flight

BOSTON – A passenger on American Airlines (AA) Flight 62 from Miami to Paris last evening, was charged today in federal court with interfering with flight crew members. The flight was diverted to Boston’s Logan International Airport where the passenger was arrested.

Edmund Alexandre, 60, of Paris, France, was a passenger on AA Flight 62 from Miami to Paris which departed at 7:00 p.m. At approximately 9:10 p.m., Alexandre allegedly began arguing with another passenger and became disruptive. A flight crew member intervened, and asked Alexandre to calm down. Alexandre continued to raise his voice, left his seat and became disruptive to other passengers. As the crew member turned and walked away, Alexandre allegedly began raising his voice again, followed the crew member towards the back of the plane, and grabbed the crew member’s arm. It was at that time that federal air marshals identified themselves and subdued and handcuffed Alexandre. Alexandre was taken into custody, and the captain of the flight diverted the flight to Boston’s Logan Airport.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bob Allison, Federal Security Director for the Transportation Security Administration for the District of Massachusetts; Vincent Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

###