Feds: Florida Man Randomly Assaulted Sleeping Passenger on D.C.-Bound Flight

A Florida man was arrested and charged with felony assault after he allegedly attacked a sleeping passenger on a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., on Monday (October 28).

According to the federal complaint, about two hours into flight 2247's five-hour journey to Dulles International Airport, Everett Chad Nelson arose from seat 35F and went to the lavatory at the front of the plane. After leaving the restroom, he stopped at row 12 and began punching the sleeping male passenger in seat 12F for no apparent reason.

The man suffered bruising on his eyes and a gash on his nose, the complaint says. Nelson's lime-green coat allegedly had blood all over its sleeves. Witnesses said they saw blood on the man's seat and the plane window and walls.

"The assault on V-1 lasted approximately one minute," the complaint states. "V-1 began screaming, and another passenger intervened and pulled the defendant off of V-1."

Nelson is facing a charge of assault by beating, striking, and wounding in the special aircraft and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Online records indicate that the 44-year-old is a Miami resident and also owns a property in Virginia, where he previously lived.

After Nelson was pulled off the man, the complaint says he was moved to a seat near the front of the plane and monitored by the passenger who intervened in the assault. At 12:26 p.m., the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was alerted about a Level 2 disturbance aboard the D.C.-bound flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration lists four threat levels; Level 2 constitutes "physical abusive behavior."

The blood-soaked passenger was treated by a doctor aboard the flight, according to the complaint. "Nelson had no observable injuries, and there was no indication that V-1 struck him in defense," the complaint states.

Reached by New Times, a United spokesperson relayed a statement from the airline:

"Thanks to the quick action of our crew and customers, one passenger was restrained after becoming physically aggressive toward another customer on a flight from San Francisco to Washington Dulles on Monday. The flight landed safely and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement." According to United, the plane carried 82 passengers and six crew members.

A call to a cell phone number listed in Nelson's name went unanswered.