Passenger attacks flight attendants and swallows rosary beads on flight
- A passenger on an American Airlines flight aggressively attacked flight attendants after takeoff.
- Authorities reported that the incident escalated due to the passenger's belief in spiritual threats.
- Delange Augustin faced federal charges stemming from this alarming mid-air episode.
On March 10, 2025, an American Airlines flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Miami, Florida, was forced to return to Savannah less than a minute after takeoff due to a violent outburst from a passenger named Delange Augustin, aged 31. Initially believed to be having a medical emergency, Augustin exhibited troubling behavior, described as incoherent yelling, stomping, and shaking. When approached by flight attendants, he violently kicked one attendant in the chest, causing significant concerns among the crew and passengers. His distress seemed exacerbated by his belief that demonic forces were present on the plane. Augustin was traveling with his sister, Medjina Augustin, and they both claimed to be fleeing from spiritual attacks as they headed to Haiti. During the altercation, Delange purportedly swallowed rosary beads, which his sister described as weapons of strength in spiritual warfare. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes during the incident, with Augustin continuing to exhibit aggressive behavior even after being subdued by other passengers and airport police. The altercations forced the flight crew to make the decision to turn the plane back to Savannah. Following the chaotic episode, both Augustin and his sister were taken into custody. They had a troubling belief that they were combating evil spirits that had allegedly followed them onto the flight. Medjina stated that she had never experienced such darkness and justified her brother's actions as being protective in nature. Despite the frightening circumstances, no one on board the flight suffered serious injuries, and the crew received commendation for their professionalism. Thus, the flight was delayed by 181 minutes before ultimately returning to Savannah. Delange Augustin was charged with multiple offenses, including interference with flight crew members, battery, and obstruction of police. After the incident, American Airlines expressed their commitment to the safety and security of their passengers, emphasizing the importance of their crew's diligence in handling the situation. The aftermath of this incident highlights the need for awareness of mental health issues and the significance of rapid response protocols during unexpected crises onboard flights.