American Airlines passenger pleads guilty to assaulting flight attendant over menu choices
An American airlines The passenger pleaded guilty to assault after assaulting a flight attendant during an argument over the plane’s menu options.
According to a New York Post criminal complaint, Robert David Croizat was sitting in first class on a March 8 flight from Barbados to Miami when he verbally abused and assaulted flight attendants.
After getting angry at the way a male flight attendant spoke to him when making meal selections, Croizat is said to have insulted the flight attendant by saying he was a “sleazy” flight attendant.
Croizat was furious “because he felt[the flight attendant]had been rude to him” and wanted “to express his displeasure that only vegetarian meals were served in the first-class cabin,” according to the court filings.
Spirit Airlines brawl caught on camera in Atlanta; The victim “clearly smelled alcohol” from the alleged attacker
Robert David Croizat was in first class on a flight from Barbados to Miami on March 8 when he verbally abused and assaulted flight attendants. (Broward County)
Croizat’s continued outburst caught the attention of a second flight attendant, who approached the two men. He said to the flight attendants, “What, do you want to call the captain?” and “aggressively, demandingly and loudly” yelled at them to “get the captain out of here,” according to the complaint.
During the incident, Croizat allegedly pushed a third flight attendant twice after she told him not to touch her. He is also accused of refusing to be seated, after which the flight attendant called the captain and informed him of the altercation.
He continues to insist on “belligerent and non-compliant behavior,” the complaint also says as a statement from the third flight attendant. The crew member told another passenger that help was needed to control Croizat, who admitted to having two drinks during the argument.
Unwilling to calm down, Croizat shoved the second flight attendant – a woman – and pinned her against the cockpit door before a passenger picked him up and sat in his seat to steady him, which resulted in a glass of wine being spilled, according to the complaint.
Woman accused of assaulting TSA officers at Phoenix airport
An American Airlines passenger pleaded guilty to assault after assaulting a flight attendant during an argument over the plane’s menu options. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
For the remainder of the flight, Croizat remained in his seat but continued to complain about the way he was treated.
The second flight attendant placed a trolley between the cabin and the cockpit to prevent him from contacting the captain.
“The captain called air traffic control to report the in-flight incident and informed air traffic control that there had been an attempted break-in into the cockpit,” the complaint reads.
Croizat was arrested as the plane landed in Miami. His attorney, Barry Wax, told Insider that Croizat pleaded guilty to assault in federal court in Miami on Wednesday. The charge of obstructing a flight crew was dropped.
Robert David Croizat was arrested as the plane landed in Miami. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“This incident was totally out of character for Mr Croizat and represented an overreaction, which he regrets,” Wax said in a statement.
Wax told Insider that his client “got into an argument with a flight attendant who he felt disrespected him.” Two other flight attendants became involved, Mr Croizat slapped one of them on the shoulder as her back was turned to her and after she turned to face him, he poked her twice in the shoulder.
Croizat’s attorney also claimed his client never attempted to get into the cockpit.
American Airlines did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.