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American Airlines passenger wants to press assault charges after man who punched her seat when she reclined
THE woman who filmed a man pummeling the headrest of her reclined seat during a flight now wants to press assault charges.
Wendi Williams accused the unidentified man of threatening and assaulting her during the American Airlines flight.
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The mother-of-one from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, also called for the air stewardess who intervened - who has been named as Loretta - to be fired for her part in the debacle.
Wendi told TMZ on Friday that the worst of the "assault" happened before she started filming it on her phone.
In a scathing twitter attack, she accused American Airlines of lying about the situation and mentions that she "inadvertently spilled a drink on the man.
Wendi wrote: "I sat through that entire flight being assaulted, being threatened, and I stayed completely calm throughout ALL of it (on the outside- inside, I was in pain, thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest).
"Here it is @AmericanAir “...the whole thing would not have been an issue...” if your airline wasn’t THE WORST! Thanks for yet another misrepresentation of me! Unbelievable!!!"
Ms Williams was on her way from New Orleans to Charlotte, North Carolina, when the incident occurred.
Wendi claims that the man "was punching my seat, hard" every 20-30 seconds about eight times - causing her a litany of medical issues.
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He then called the air hostess, "huffy" Loretta, who Wendi says escalated the situation by threatening to arrest her rather than tell the man to stop hitting her "like a child".
She said: "I want to know who he is, I would like to press charges against this man. I was assaulted on this plane."
Wendi had reclined her seat into a man who was unable to recline his because he was on the back row.
He asked her to put her seat up so he could eat his lunch, she lifted it, then re-reclined again after he'd eaten.
So he started pummelling her headrest, as was seen in the video she took, for which she now says she was threatened with arrest by Loretta.
Wendi decided filming the interaction and share it on after the plane landed. She added that despite complaining to the cabin crew, they gave him a complimentary drink while threatening to escort her off the plane.
She explained on social media: "He asked me to put my seat up while he ate. I did. I put it back when he was finished; he began punching me through the seat.
"He punched my seat about nine times then I started videoing."
"I’m in pain. I have one cervical disk left that isn’t fused - the first one which allows me some mobility.
"I am grateful for the limited movement I still have and shouldn’t have had to endure the repeated blows
"The airline didn’t really accept any culpability, although she apologised and said what happened was wrong - that’s it.
"I’ve lost time at work, had to visit a doctor, got x-rays, and have had horrible headaches for a week."
The video has divided social media, with users conflicted about who was in the wrong.
Wendi has since been batting off trolls on her twitter account, having been called a bully, selfish, inconsiderate and immature.
In fairness, she's doing quite well, telling one person who called her actions a waste of FBI time "I'm on the edge of my reclined seat".
Delta CEO Ed Bastian chimed in on the debate on plane etiquette on Friday when he told that passengers' should ask permission from the person sitting behind them to put their seat back – and that he never reclines.
However, some people were on her side, saying he should have been taken off the flight while others believe the woman shouldn't have reclined her seat.
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One person said: "I can't believe American Airlines did nothing for this poor woman, but gave this creep a drink."
Another added: "If I paid for the damn seat I’ll recline if I want to. His behaviour would’ve gotten me arrested."
Others were stunned to hear he was given a free drink as well: "A cocktail??? The guy should have been moved. Period. A person who has some agitation DOES NOT need alcohol."
Someone else said it was his choice to sit at the back: "Too bad for him he chose a s*** seat."
One of those in agreement with the male passenger said: "I'm 6ft 5 and can't stand inconsiderate people putting their seats back. Being the size I am I still won't recline due to having courtesy for others. If it was me you wouldn't have got your seat back so count yourself lucky this guy let you."
Another said: "Would have killed you to put your seat up? Yes, he was being an ass but so were you. Grow up."
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Meanwhile, someone commented: "He was wrong, but people who recline their seats and have to be asked to put them up so a person in back of them can eat should simply fly first class. Mind boggling that you would continue to recline your seat."
An American Airlines spokesperson said: "We are aware of a customer dispute that transpired on American Eagle flight 4392, operated by Republic Airways on January 31. The safety and comfort of our customers and team members is our top priority, and our team is looking into the issue."
Delta Airlines have reduced the amount that passengers can recline their seat during flights.
An expert claims that you should only "slightly recline" your seat to sleep well, as a full recline doesn't support the lower back.
Last year, TOWIE's Gemma Collins rowed with a passenger who reclined her seat when she tried to sleep.
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