A California woman has pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching a flight attendant who had continuously asked her to put on a mask during a flight.
The woman, identified as 28-year-old, Vyvianna Quinonez admitted to punching the unidentified Southwest Airlines flight attendant on a May 23 trip from Sacramento to San Diego.
Court papers stated that the victim suffered three broken teeth, bruising to her left eye, and a cut under her eye that required stitches.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office described that the flight attendant had asked Quinonez to put her face mask on, fasten her seat belt, and stow her tray table on the flight’s descent.
“The flight attendant who was assaulted was simply doing her job to ensure the safety of all passengers aboard the plane,” Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said. “It’s inexcusable for anyone to use violence on an airplane for any reason, particularly towards a flight attendant who is there to keep all the passengers safe.” Quinonez will be sentenced on March 11.
New video shows an altercation between Vyvianna Quinonez and a Southwest Airlines flight attendant. A union representative says the flight attendant lost two teeth when she was struck. Quinonez who was arrested on battery charges claims it was self-defense. pic.twitter.com/aCAHGHxF5b
— CBS 8 San Diego (@CBS8) May 26, 2021
