Man blames his ‘homophobia’ after attacking Delta flight attendant over drink, FBI says
A man flying first class said his “homophobia” may have ignited his temper that led him to attack a Delta Air Lines flight attendant for refusing to serve him an alcoholic drink, the FBI says.
He told FBI agents the flight attendant was “homosexual and that this made him uncomfortable” on the April 22 flight bound from Atlanta to Phoenix, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona.
Christopher Alexander Morgan, of Arizona, is accused of assaulting the flight attendant by hitting him in the chest with an airplane telephone and hurling homophobic slurs at him over the refusal of the drink, the complaint said.
Morgan denied hitting the flight attendant with the phone and told authorities he’s “homophobic.”
Morgan’s lawyer Ana Botello declined McClatchy News’ request for comment on April 27.
The ordeal began when Morgan was found reclining “his seat all the way back and refused to put on his seat belt,” before takeoff, the complaint detailed.
He didn’t listen when the victim flight attendant and another told him to buckle up and “bring his seat upright,” according to the FBI.
During the flight, Morgan ordered and was given an alcoholic drink before he asked for a second one, the complaint said. However, the flight attendant offered him a non-alcoholic drink instead — which “angered” him.
Morgan is accused of calling the flight attendant “the f-word and a ‘queer’ and threw a glass of ice” at them in response, according to the FBI.
Then, the flight attendant grabbed a telephone aboard the flight to notify the captain of Morgan’s actions but Morgan walked over and ripped the telephone out of his hands, the complaint said. Then, Morgan hit the flight attendant in the chest with the phone and called him another homophobic slur.
“Delta flight 2908 on April 22 from Atlanta to Phoenix was met on arrival by law enforcement following a reported incident involving a customer onboard,” a Delta spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement.
When the flight arrived in Phoenix, Morgan was arrested by the Phoenix Police Department and then released into FBI custody, police Sgt. Philip Krynsky told McClatchy News in a statement.
Morgan told the FBI “that he is homophobic and that it is possible he could have been intimidating to the flight attendants,” during an interview, according to the complaint.
He said he called the flight attendant a “queer” but denied attacking him or grabbing the telephone from his hands, according to the FBI.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and discrimination at our airports and aboard our aircraft and takes all reports of such behavior seriously, especially when directed at our employees,” the spokesperson said. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and our customers.”
Morgan is charged with interfering with a flight crew member on an aircraft and could potentially face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, according to the FBI.
This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Man blames his ‘homophobia’ after attacking Delta flight attendant over drink, FBI says."
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