Deaf Passenger Viciously Attacked on United Airlines Flight from SFO to Washington

A United Airlines flight from San Francisco International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport was disrupted Monday by a violent assault on a deaf passenger. Mid-flight, Everett Chad Nelson allegedly attacked a man seated at the window, who was asleep and later identified as both deaf and non-verbal. Fellow passenger Sandhya Gupta, seated nearby, described the attack as "vicious," with passengers waking up to the victim’s screams. Another passenger intervened, restraining Nelson until the plane landed safely, where he was taken into custody.

The FBI and FAA have launched investigations into the assault. According to Gupta, the victim, shocked and frightened, communicated with the crew via phone messages, expressing his fear. Although Nelson claimed the man had previously attacked him, the victim denied any prior encounter with his assailant.

The airline thanked passengers and crew for their quick response, and the FAA reiterated its commitment to legal action against unruly passengers. The agency has seen a significant decrease in incidents since 2021 but continues to pursue penalties for disruptive behavior onboard.