(Scypre.com) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken legal action against Heather Wells, a 34-year-old passenger from San Antonio, Texas, who caused a disturbance on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Charlotte on July 6, 2021. In a bizarre sequence of events, Wells attempted to open the front cabin door mid-flight, prompting flight attendants to restrain her with duct tape.
According to reports, the flight, American Airlines Flight 1774, experienced a delay of approximately three hours before departing at midnight. About an hour into the flight, chaos erupted when Wells began exhibiting erratic behavior, which included biting, kicking, and spitting at both staff and fellow passengers.
Viral footage of the incident captured by a TikTok user showed Wells screaming as passengers disembarked the aircraft while flight attendants attempted to maintain order. Business Insider revealed that in 2022, the FAA imposed a record civil penalty of $81,950 on Wells. Now, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the FAA in San Antonio to recover the fine.
The lawsuit, filed on June 6, alleges that Wells, after consuming alcohol, made a desperate attempt to open the front cabin door. She then engaged in incoherent conversations with passengers before being restrained by flight attendants. Despite efforts to subdue her with flex cuffs, Wells continued to resist, even striking one attendant multiple times.
“Ultimately, the flight attendants and passenger were able to restrain Defendant with duct tape and flex cuffs and get her seated,” the filing stated.
Despite being bound and gagged, Wells persisted in her disruptive behavior, prompting flight attendants to gag her to minimize her outbursts. Even upon landing in Charlotte, law enforcement was required to remove her from the aircraft after she had to be sedated due to her continued agitation.
The lawsuit accuses Wells of violating federal aviation regulations by attempting to access the flight cabin, threatening the flight crew, and endangering the safety of passengers and staff. While the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department has not provided information on potential criminal charges, the FAA is pursuing legal action to address the incident and ensure accountability for the disruption caused by Wells’ actions.