(CNN) — A coast-to-coast flight was diverted to Denver on Wednesday night after a passenger “physically assaulted a flight attendant,” American Airlines said in a statement.
A source familiar with the details of the incident said “the attack was unprovoked,” adding the passenger went to the back of the plane and punched the flight attendant twice in the face and broke her nose.
The head of American Airlines says the incident on Wednesday “is one of the worst displays of unruly behavior we’ve ever witnessed.”
“That is not enough,” said Parker. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure he is prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
The FBI said it is investigating the incident. The agency said no arrests have been made and its investigation is ongoing.
The Federal Aviation Administration also said Thursday that it will investigate the incident.
One $45,000 fine, announced in August, was against a passenger accused of throwing his luggage at another passenger and, while lying on the aisle floor, “grabbing a flight attendant by the ankles and putting his head up her skirt.”
Disruptive passengers had used sexist, racist and/or homophobic language, according to 61%, while 17% said they’d been a victim of a physical attack this year.