‘Drunk’ Brad Pitt ‘lunged’ at teenage son Maddox as mid-air domestic kicked off claim new reports
TMZ reports the actor 'made contact' with eldest son as he rowed with Angelina Jolie on private jet
BRAD Pitt "lunged" at adopted son Maddox in the plane row that ended his marriage, claim TMZ.
It is claimed that Maddox tried to intervene in an argument between his parents - but as he tried to protect mum Angelina Jolie, Brad "made contact" with the 15-year-old.
The new developments come hours after The Sun exclusively revealed that the Fight Club star was now under investigation by the FBI.
However, it's not clear if Brad was drunk when he allegedly struck Maddox, or just by the time the family's private jet landed.
A source close to Angelina told TMZ that Brad was sober when the row kicked off, but authorities were told that he had been drinking.
The domestic apparently erupted shortly after the jet had taken to the air, but it's not clear if Brad and Ange were actually having a row or if the strong-willed teen was acting up.
Another question is whether Brad hit the lad intentionally, accidentally or at all.
As the incident took place in air, it is being investigated by the FBI.
Witnesses said Pitt, 52, was “out of control” and allegedly clashed with the 15-year-old.
Police were seen at the Hollywood home he shared with wife Angelina Jolie, 41.
He is alleged to have carried on his rant when the plane landed at an unnamed airport before attempting to exit the scene in an aircraft fuel truck.
It is believed the incident could be the trigger for Angelina, 41, calling time on their marriage.
An anonymous call was made to the hotline of the LA County Department of Children and Family Services, which interviewed Pitt and his warring wife.
But the FBI is also investigating the incident because it took place in the air.
And a police car was seen arriving at the Jolie-Pitt compound in the Hollywood Hills, where Brad is believed to be staying.
In world exclusive interviews, two members of Brad and Angelina’s household have broken their silence over the clash with Maddox.
One long-time member of staff told The Sun: “There was a disagreement with the eldest boy.
“I know it started on the way to the airport before the plane took off and escalated on the plane.
“It was a teenage thing, there is a lot of hormones going on.
“They were gone for over ten days.
“You put eight people in a little tube like that and put them up in the air for 12½ hours, add this and that to it.”
Another current member of staff added: “I was there for pick-up at the end of the night.
“Obviously things were tense.
“There were definitely some hurt feelings but I have never seen any evidence of abuse or anything like that.”
Investigators are said to be preparing to interview Maddox, as well as some of his siblings — Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, ten, Knox, eight, and Vivienne, eight.
We can also reveal Brad is “distraught and terrified” because he has not been able to see the kids since the incident.
A source close to the actor said: “He takes the investigation very seriously and he is cooperating fully.
“He was not physical in the way that has been reported.
“He will always do whatever is best for his kids.”
Los Angeles police were also reportedly called in to investigate, but the force denied the claim when asked by The Sun.
A spokesman said: “We are not investigating Brad Pitt or any sort of child abuse.”
And a source added: “It is extremely high profile so if the police had been called, they would be looking into it.
“It would be investigated fully.
“But there is no paperwork trail showing any kind of involvement from the police at all.”
However, the investigation by family services officials is “absolutely ongoing”.
A source said: “Brad has been interviewed.
“The case remains open.”
A spokesman for the department said: “We cannot disclose any information as it is confidential.
"I can tell you that when our child protection hotline gets a call, alleging suspected abuse or neglect, we interview the parent or parents and any children who can talk with us.
“We look to ascertain if in fact there has been abuse or neglect.
“If it rises to a serious level then, at times, children are removed from their homes.
“Other times we can resolve the situation without detaining children or other services can be provided.”
Angelina adopted Maddox in March 2002, two years before she entered a relationship with Brad.
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He later officially adopted both Maddox and Angelina’s other adopted child, Zahara, and changed their surnames to Jolie-Pitt.
Maddox plans to follow his parents into film and worked behind the scenes on their movie By The Sea, in which they starred as an unhappily married couple.
Angelina’s actor father John Voight, 77, seemed to know little about the allegations against Brad.
He said: “I don’t know anything about that today.
“Let’s let things settle down.
“Let me figure out what’s going on here.”
Angelina filed for divorce on Monday for “the health of the family” two years after their wedding at their French estate Chateau Miraval.
The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences and asked for custody of their six kids.
Pitt has admitted he took drugs, boozed and yelled during confrontations with his wife, but is devastated that she has assembled a “hit team” to paint him as a dangerous dad.
Ms Wasser, who represented Johnny Depp in his divorce battle, is known for her expertise in dissolving high profile marriages with Britney Spears, Ryan Reynolds and Kim Kardashian among her previous clients.
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