Hunter Andrew Dietrich, Assault Onboard Aircraft, Montana 2023

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Assault Onboard Aircraft Lands Bozeman Man with 2 Years of Probation and $2,500 Fine

MISSOULA — A disturbing incident on a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Bozeman has resulted in a Bozeman man being sentenced to two years of probation and fined $2,500.

Hunter Andrew Dietrich, 33, pleaded guilty in March to assault onboard an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, a misdemeanor.

According to court documents, SkyWest Flight 3789 operating as Delta Connections traveled from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Bozeman on February 11, 2023. During the flight, Dietrich was disruptive, assaulted numerous individuals, and disobeyed repeated instructions from the flight crew to behave.

The investigation found that Dietrich kissed a flight attendant on the head while touching her buttocks, and, while sitting next to a female passenger, he put his hands between her legs and his arm around her shoulder after being told not to. Dietrich continued this behavior while the plane was on approach, and he appeared to be intoxicated.

The court also ordered $1,704 restitution to the airline.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, with the FBI and Bozeman Airport Police conducting the investigation.

The disturbing incident has raised concerns about the safety of airline passengers. This sentence serves as a reminder that such behavior will not be tolerated in the skies.