ATLANTA, GA – A 32-year-old passenger faces a severe federal charge after an alleged in-flight assault forced a Delta Air Lines flight to make an emergency diversion to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The In-Flight Incident
According to federal court records filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Cody James Maluck was traveling on Delta Flight 800 from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles.
During the beverage service, a female flight attendant passed Maluck’s seat, believing he was asleep. As she assisted a nearby passenger, she reported feeling a hard slap to her buttocks with enough force to push her body forward. When she turned around, Maluck reportedly raised his hands and claimed he “didn’t do anything.”
Another crew member confirmed hearing the victim yell and seeing her body move from the impact.
Emergency Diversion And Arrest
Following the incident, the crew immediately suspended the in-flight service. The pilot was notified and made the decision to divert the aircraft directly to Atlanta.
Atlanta Police Department officers met the plane at the gate upon arrival and detained Maluck. The case was subsequently handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Maluck admitted to investigators that he touched the flight attendant but claimed he was wearing headphones and only meant to get her attention, denying that he slapped her hard.
Severe Federal Charges
On June 9, a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Maluck on one count of interference with crew members or attendants. Because interfering with a flight crew is a federal crime, Maluck faces a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A Delta Air Lines spokesperson stated that the airline has “zero tolerance for disruptive or unruly behavior” and will fully cooperate with law enforcement to protect their crew.
