A drunk Filipino passenger who tried to kiss a stewardess and punched a male flight attendant was arrested by authorities after he went to a drunken rampage on board a US-bound Philippine Airlines flight.
Edgar Nafarrette Nonga, 53, was on Philippine Airlines Flight 112 from Manila to Los Angeles when the flight crew and at least five passengers restrained him after he became irate when he was refused more alcoholic drinks, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
He appeared in U.S. District Court in L.A. on Monday to face one charge of interference with a flight crew, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, KTLA-TV reported.
LAX police and FBI agents responded when the plane landed Sunday morning.
Nonga allegedly swore at flight crew members when making demands and was issued several warnings. He twice punched a flight attendant, including in the face and upper torso, according to the FBI.
Nonga was restrained and placed in flex-cuffs by the flight crew, with help from at least five passengers, the FBI said.
Too much to drink
Statements given to federal agents claim 53-year old Edgar Nonga admitted to having had four drinks at the Ninoy Aquino international Airport lounge before boarding PAL flight 112 heading to Los Angeles.
Upon boarding, Nonga, a California-based security guard who visited relatives in the Philippines with his parents, helped himself to a bottle of whiskey that he saw in the plane's galley.
He then had another drink, then trouble started when the crew decided to cut him off after he asked for one more.
According to a witness testimony in a federal affidavit, Nonga began cursing at flight attendants in Tagalog and even threatened to have one killed if they did not give him another drink.
Some witnesses claim Nonga then puckered his lips in an attempt to kiss the female flight attendant who tried to make him stop drinking.
A male flight attendant identified as RL stopped Nonga from kissing his co-worker. However, Nonga began punching the male flight attendant in the torso and head.
One testimony claims Nonga was holding keys as if it was a knife during the alleged punching spree.
After Nonga was restrained, he returned to his seat. His mother then spoke to the attendants and told them to "do what you have to do" because Nonga wasn't listening to his parents either.
Nonga came back for more eventually punching RL again.Passengers and other crew members were able to restrain him.
He was arrested upon landing in Los Angeles on Sunday morning.--Source: Los Angeles Times/ABS-CBN News