After being recorded on film reportedly hitting an airline worker while he was boarding a plane, a man from Texas has been charged with violence and has been prohibited from flying with United Airlines effective immediately.
Cody Lovins, 47, from Montgomery, was taken into custody early on Monday morning at Terminal 3 of San Francisco International Airport in connection with the “physical altercation” that occurred aboard a United flight from San Francisco to Houston before takeoff, according to the police.
An eyewitness named Naya Jimenez captured footage that went viral, showing a man wearing a blue t-shirt, who was eventually identified as Lovins, aggressively punching a crew member on many occasions during a confrontation over a seat.
Lovins was reportedly issued a citation for battery and then freed, as stated by the police. As a result of the passenger’s “unacceptable” behavior, United Airlines has decided to bar him from flying with the airline in the future.
Just before midnight on Sunday, Jimenez, who was the one who recorded the footage of the brawl, stated to the station KTRK that the crisis started to unravel during the boarding process.
The woman claims that Lovins became enraged when she requested that his wife and then he relocate out of the seat that she had been given.
She explained that in order to attempt to communicate with both of them, they had to bring in a gate attendant.
After that, the 47-year-old man, who Jimenez described as “slurring his speech a little bit,” continued to punch the airline employee multiple times, as can be seen in the video.
It’s a miracle! Please halt! “Stop!” The clip shows that there are other passengers on the plane who can be heard yelling out.
As far as Jimenez is concerned, the already chaotic situation became even more perilous when Lovins unlocked an emergency exit to jump out of the airplane.
The individual who was a passenger stated that members of the crew arrived at the scene just in time and rescued the individual.
The police stated that they caught up with Lovins in the airport terminal and detained him for battery, which is a misdemeanor offence that carries a sentence of up to six months in California. This occurred after Lovins was removed from the flight due to his disruptive conduct.
Violence Against Airline Staff
If the situation is severe enough, a customer who does not obey the directions given by flight attendants may be barred from travelling with that particular airline.
On May 23, 2021, Vyvianna Quinonez, who was 28 years old at the time, entered a guilty plea to federal charges for repeatedly assaulting a South-west Airlines flight attendant after being instructed to wear her face mask. San Diego International Airport was the destination of the South-west Airlines aircraft that took off from Sacramento International Airport in the state of California.
During the final descent of the flight, the woman was not “wearing her seat belt, pulling her tray table down, and was not wearing her facemask properly,” according to the records filed in the court.
At the same time that she was shouting profanities, she allegedly talked back to the flight attendant. After that, she apparently stood up and assaulted the flight attendant. As a result of the event, which was captured on camera by other passengers, one individual intervened between Quinonez and the employee in an effort to stop the fight from occurring.
Chipped teeth, a bruised and swollen eye, a cut under her eye, and a bruise on her right forearm were among the injuries that the flight attendant experienced before landing.
A punishment of $7,500 was imposed on Quinonez, and he was prohibited from flying for any commercial airline. Additionally, he was ordered to serve a maximum of fifteen months in federal prison.
Drunk Passenger Punches Airline Staff and Opens Exit Door in Mid-Flight Incident
Cody Benjamin Lovins, who is 47 years old, and his wife sat in a pair of first class seats on a late-night trip operated by United Airlines that travelled from San Francisco (SFO) to Houston (IAH). When Naya Jimenez boarded the flight, she discovered that her seat was already filled, despite the fact that neither of those seats had been assigned to them.
The couple instructed her to find another seat after she respectfully stated that Lovins’ wife was sitting in the seat she was occupying. After some time had passed, a flight attendant arrived, and Jimenez made a request for assistance. In order to explain to the gate agent that they had made the decision to upgrade themselves due to the fact that they had experienced a flight delay earlier, the Lovins were brought on board.
The gate agent indicated that self-upgrades were not allowed, which caused Mr. Lovins to become angry (at this point, he was also slurring his words). The gate agent refused to relocate, and as a result, the Lovins were informed that they would be required to disembark from the aeroplane and would not be able to travel to Houston.
The gate agent was then attacked by Lovins, who rose up and punched her multiple times (Jimenez stated that this was a flight attendant, but it looks to be a gate agent, as does United’s statement below on the incident).
He was rescued by other passengers on board and withdrew to the front galley. There, he opened the door to the emergency exit and was about to leap (to his death or at the very least to break his bones) when he was rescued and brought back to safety.
Understanding the Stakes in the Crew Assault Cases
Unruly Passenger & Crew Assault Trends
- Total unruly incidents (2024): Airlines reported over 1,240 unruly passenger incidents to the FAA, with 915 cases occurring between Jan 1 and June 9, 2024—including 106 cases linked to intoxication.
- Since 2021, airline crews have reported 12,900 unruly passenger incidents to the FAA, marking a sharp increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Enforcement & Legal Responses
- The FAA has referred 313 disruptive or violent passenger cases to the FBI since late 2021, including 43 referrals over the past year alone.
- Fines imposed:
- In 2022, the FAA fined passengers $8.4 million; in 2023, $7.5 million was imposed across 2,075 incidents—a 15% drop from 2022’s 2,455 incidents.
- The maximum civil penalty per violation can reach $37,000.
Flight Attendant Impact
- 85% of flight attendants reported encountering at least one unruly passenger during 2021–2022, with 17% experiencing physical incidents such as hitting, kicking, or shoving.
- Notable assault in early 2025: a former California Highway Patrol captain allegedly slapped a flight attendant’s buttocks and exposed himself onboard a JetBlue flight; federal prosecutors are pursuing charges for abusive sexual contact.
Summary of Passenger Attacks on Airline Crew in the U.S.
Unruly Incidents in 2024
In the first half of 2024 alone, over 1,240 unruly passenger incidents were reported to the FAA, with 915 of those occurring by June 9, 2024.
Cumulative Reports Since 2021
Since the beginning of 2021, the FAA has received reports of approximately 12,900 unruly passenger incidents, reflecting a persistent pattern of in-flight disruptions.
Referrals to Federal Law Enforcement
The FAA has referred 313 serious passenger misconduct cases to the FBI since late 2021, including 43 in the past year, signaling a shift toward criminal accountability.
Civil Penalties and Fines
In terms of financial consequences, the FAA issued $8.4 million in fines in 2022 and $7.5 million in 2023, spread across 2,075 separate incidents.
Impact on Flight Attendants
A troubling 17% of flight attendants reported being physically assaulted (hit, kicked, shoved), while 85% encountered unruly passenger behavior in recent years, according to union surveys.
Notable 2025 Crew Assault Case
In a high-profile 2025 incident aboard a JetBlue flight, a former California Highway Patrol officer allegedly slapped a flight attendant’s buttocks and exposed himself, leading to federal charges of abusive sexual contact.
Why This Matters
The data underscores a continued high level of in-flight aggression and direct assaults on crew, with severe legal and financial consequences for offenders. FAA enforcement remains robust, but the rising incidence highlights an urgent need for improved passenger conduct controls, better crew protection protocols, and heightened legal deterrents.
