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“Demonic”: Passenger Viciously Attacks Nonverbal Deaf Man Mid-Flight Till Face Is “Bloody”
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“Demonic”: Passenger Viciously Attacks Nonverbal Deaf Man Mid-Flight Till Face Is “Bloody”

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A Florida man is in custody after repeatedly beating a passenger mid-flight. The offender reportedly began to attack his victim while he was asleep on a United Airlines flight. The unfortunate passenger, who is deaf and nonverbal, suffered numerous wounds. The offender has since been charged with a felony.

The FBI said that Everett Chad Nelson, who was seated in 35F, walked to the lavatory about two hours into a flight from San Francisco, California, to Dulles, Virginia, USA, ABC News reported on Wednesday (October 30).

Highlights
  • Florida man attacks deaf passenger on United flight, now in custody.
  • Victim suffered black eyes and nose gash; treated on-flight by doctor.
  • Attack stopped by another passenger; assailant charged with felony.
  • FAA is investigating amid rising rates of unruly passenger events.

While returning to his seat after using the lavatory, Nelson reportedly stopped at seat 12F, where a man was sleeping. The victim has not been identified publicly.

A Florida man randomly began beating a deaf, sleeping passenger mid-flight until his face was bruised and bloody

Image credits: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty (Not the actual photo)

Nelson, 44, reportedly began repeatedly punching the passenger, while blood splattered across both men and onto the plane’s seat, window, and wall.

An FBI affidavit stated that the victim awoke screaming, and other passengers attempted to intervene, as per ABC News.

Image credits: Daniel Shapiro / Unsplash (Not the actual photo)

As a result of the attack, the victim was left with black eyes and a gash on his nose. He was treated by a doctor on the flight for abrasions on his face and head.

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The victim, who did not even harm Nelson in self-defense, faced a beating that lasted for about one minute, according to the FBI affidavit.

The attack only stopped after another passenger forced Nelson away from the victim

Image credits: Hanson Lu / Unsplash (Not the actual photo)

Image credits: lutfi gaos / Unsplash (Not the actual photo)

Eventually, another passenger succeeded in pulling Nelson off of the victim, ABC News reported.

Nelson was subsequently moved to a seat at the front of the aircraft and monitored by the passenger who had stopped the assault.

In the aftermath of the incident, United Airlines wrote in a statement: “Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers, one passenger was restrained after becoming physically aggressive toward another customer.”

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Image credits: Imgorthand / Getty (Not the actual photo)

“The flight landed safely and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement.”

It is unclear what prompted the attack on the passenger, The New York Times reported on Thursday (October 31).

Image credits: Syphers / Unsplash (Not the actual photo)

Nelson was subsequently charged with one felony count of assault by beating, striking, and wounding, as per The Times.

The offender reportedly appeared in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday, before US Magistrate Judge William B. Porter. 

As of Thursday, Nelson reportedly remained in custody and had not entered a plea. Moreover, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday that it was investigating the attack.

Image credits: DerManuW / Pixaby (Not the actual photo)

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The latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures show that there has been an increase in the rate of reported unruly passenger incidents. 

Based on over 24,500 incident reports from over 50 operators globally, there was one incident for every 480 flights in 2023, versus one incident for every 568 flights in 2022.

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Nelson is being labeled as “crazy” and “vile” for his impromptu attack by various commenters

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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Renan Duarte

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Upstaged75
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like he was under the influence of something. PCP maybe? I've heard that can make you violent. I hope he spends a long time in jail!

Ben Aziza
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First applause to the Gigachad passager who stopped the attacker then monitored him. As for the attaker... Did he take something in the bathroom that made him go berserk for no reason on a random person? Even then i fail to see which d**g can do that on it's own... Demon is an apt word but in the meaning that there is no explanation for this action. Illogical,Irrational...a "demonic" entity caused it... Probably a mental health / neurological investigation is needed. To see if the brain is messed up or whatever he took or did not take caused it!

Max Fox
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the part where they wrote that Hero "monitored" the attacker. Most likely scared the sh!t out of him, and hopefully duct taped him to the seat. That guy should get an award. At least a lifetime Executive Platinum membership for the airline, and automatic TSA pre-check.

Load More Replies...
Red PANda (she/they/he/ze)
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is crazy! I hope the victim recovers and feels better soon. I feel like a lot of people are judging before knowing the whole situation, though. Perhaps the guy was in a state of psychosis, or was really scared of flying, or something? Doesn’t excuse what he did, i agree he should still be punished for his actions. But like i personally don’t judge a situation like this more than “that’s terrible!” cuz i don’t know the full story.

Bookworm
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is beyond weird that he was apparently completely fine until he came back from the bathroom. I'm no expert but I don't think most d***s affect people that instantly? It would almost make more sense if they knew each other and it was some kind of premeditated action-movie style thing.

Load More Replies...
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Upstaged75
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like he was under the influence of something. PCP maybe? I've heard that can make you violent. I hope he spends a long time in jail!

Ben Aziza
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First applause to the Gigachad passager who stopped the attacker then monitored him. As for the attaker... Did he take something in the bathroom that made him go berserk for no reason on a random person? Even then i fail to see which d**g can do that on it's own... Demon is an apt word but in the meaning that there is no explanation for this action. Illogical,Irrational...a "demonic" entity caused it... Probably a mental health / neurological investigation is needed. To see if the brain is messed up or whatever he took or did not take caused it!

Max Fox
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the part where they wrote that Hero "monitored" the attacker. Most likely scared the sh!t out of him, and hopefully duct taped him to the seat. That guy should get an award. At least a lifetime Executive Platinum membership for the airline, and automatic TSA pre-check.

Load More Replies...
Red PANda (she/they/he/ze)
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is crazy! I hope the victim recovers and feels better soon. I feel like a lot of people are judging before knowing the whole situation, though. Perhaps the guy was in a state of psychosis, or was really scared of flying, or something? Doesn’t excuse what he did, i agree he should still be punished for his actions. But like i personally don’t judge a situation like this more than “that’s terrible!” cuz i don’t know the full story.

Bookworm
Community Member
3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is beyond weird that he was apparently completely fine until he came back from the bathroom. I'm no expert but I don't think most d***s affect people that instantly? It would almost make more sense if they knew each other and it was some kind of premeditated action-movie style thing.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
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