Overview
- The alleged incident occurred on May 9 on a Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles when a lead flight attendant said she felt a slap to her buttocks during beverage service.
- The pilot diverted the plane to Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport for safety, Atlanta police detained the passenger, and the FBI took over the investigation.
- The accused, Cody James Maluck, told a federal air marshal he had been wearing headphones, admitted touching the attendant, waived his Miranda rights, and denied using enough force to move her.
- Maluck was ordered detained pending trial after a May 11 hearing and was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3 on charges of interfering with flight crew members that carry up to 20 years in prison.
- Delta said it has zero tolerance for disruptive behavior and will cooperate with law enforcement, a stance that reflects rising scrutiny and tougher prosecution of assaults on airline staff.