RICHMOND, Va. – A New York man who threatened flight attendants and fellow passengers pled guilty to interference with a flight crew.
James Tyqwon Ford, 31, pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew.
According to court documents, on May 13, 2023, Ford was a passenger on a nonstop flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to New York.
Before the first beverage service, flight crew members smelled the odor of alcohol aboard the aircraft and made a general announcement that passengers are prohibited from consuming personal alcohol aboard the aircraft.
Following the announcement, Ford became disruptive, being disrespectful towards the flight crew and using profanity against them.
A flight attendant advised Ford that cursing at the flight crew is not tolerated, reiterated that he could not consume personal alcohol aboard the aircraft, and notified him that law enforcement would be called when the flight landed.
Ford responded with additional lewd comments and stated that the police would have to catch him first.
Ford later walked to the rear galley of the aircraft and approached another flight attendant. Ford made physical threats against the first flight attendant, including that he wished to punch her in the face and shoot her.
Passengers informed flight crew members that Ford was making them fear for their safety by making lewd comments, stating that he brought a firearm aboard the plane, and threatening to “tear the plane apart.”
Ford’s wife attempted to remove a bottle of Hennessy from his possession, leading to an altercation and Ford had to be separated from her by other passengers for her to escape to a different section of the aircraft.
Ford then approached crew members at the rear galley of the plane a second time, threatening to have friends in New York follow the crew members to their hotel and “destroy them.”
Ford’s disruptive behavior, threats, and actions towards his wife forced the flight to divert from its intended destination of New York, landing instead in Richmond. Law enforcement officers met the flight upon landing and removed Ford from the plane.
Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Exact criminal charges: Interference with a flight crew.
City and state: Richmond, Virginia.
Exact date: May 13, 2023.
Sentence or outcome: Up to 20 years in prison and a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 2, 2025.
Related Federal Cases
- Darryl Donnell Moore, Fentanyl Trafficking, West Virginia 2023 · Puerto Rico
- David Patrick Diaz, Interference with Flight Crew, New York 2015 · New York
- Princess Cruise Lines Ltd, Ocean Pollution, USA 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Telwin Vincent, Bank Fraud, New York 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Daniel Feliciano, Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2024 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
