Trouble in the Skies: A Texas Man's Rampage on a Flight to D. C

A Texas man named Asterius Rulamka was arrested by the FBI for causing chaos on an American Airlines flight from Wichita to Washington, D. C. He was accused of a violent assault on a passenger, trying to hit another, and hurting a flight attendant. The incident happened just before the plane landed on March 5. Rulamka was in the 14th row when he stood up and threatened a flight attendant, saying he would assault him after landing. Several passengers started filming his threatening behavior. Rulamka then approached a passenger who was recording the incident and attacked him, grabbing his arms and verbally threatening him. The victim suffered bruising and a bloodshot eye. Rulamka repeatedly struck the passenger before trying to hit a second passenger, who managed to dodge the blow but still got injured. The second victim cut his finger and broke a fingernail during the struggle. The incident occurred around 9 p. m. , nearly the same time as another American Airlines flight from Wichita to Reagan National crashed five weeks earlier. The flight, American Eagle flight 5574, was on the same route. This coincidence raises questions about the safety of these flights. The airline responded by saying they do not tolerate violence and thanked their team members for their professionalism. During the FBI interview, Rulamka mentioned President Trump, stating that he had come to D. C. to speak to him because he was "mad. " This reference to the President adds a layer of intrigue to the case, raising questions about the motives behind his actions. Rulamka was eventually secured in a seat by three passengers and flight attendants before the plane landed. Rulamka had a history of legal troubles, including an immigration violation investigation in 2014. He is currently in jail facing a federal assault charge and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. The court records do not indicate if he has entered a plea yet. The FBI, which has airport liaison agents to handle investigations of crimes aboard commercial aircraft, did not comment on the case. The incident highlights the importance of having protocols in place to handle such situations and the need for better training for flight attendants and passengers.