A dramatic incident unfolded aboard an American Airlines flight on March 10, when a passenger, Delange Augustin, 31, launched a violent outburst against a fellow traveler and a flight attendant, swallowed rosary, believing he was engaged in a battle against a “satanic disciple” allegedly on board.
The situation escalated shortly after takeoff from Savannah, Georgia, en route to Miami, Florida.
Flight attendants initially approached Augustin, concerned that he was experiencing a seizure due to his erratic movements, stomping, shouting incoherently, and shaking.
However, as they attempted to check on him, he suddenly turned and delivered a forceful two-footed kick to the chest of one attendant, sending them hurtling across the aisle and into a window seat, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit obtained by The Independent.
Despite initial concerns that Augustin was in medical distress, his actions appeared deliberate, intensifying fears among the crew.
The disturbance was so severe that the pilots, hearing the commotion from the cockpit, made the decision to return to Savannah. This decision, however, triggered even more aggression from Augustin, who began violently attacking the seat in front of him, striking both the chair and the passenger occupying it until the seat collapsed.
Though he eventually calmed down, the chaos resumed upon landing. As soon as the plane touched down, Augustin unbuckled his seatbelt and rushed toward the front of the aircraft, clutching his sister, Medjina Augustin.
He then cornered a flight attendant in the galley and swung multiple punches, one of which struck her upper arm.
Passengers quickly intervened, pulling Augustin and his sister to the ground before airport police arrived.
Officers boarded the aircraft, subdued him, and transported him to a hospital for evaluation, not only due to his violent outburst but also because he had ingested rosary beads during the incident.
Medjina Augustin later told authorities that she and her brother had been on their way to Haiti to escape “religious attacks of a spiritual nature.”
She recounted how he had warned her to “close her eyes and pray because Satan’s disciple(s) had followed them onto the plane and the legion did not want the Augustins to make it to Haiti.” She continued praying as he launched his attack.
She further explained that her brother swallowed the rosary beads as part of his spiritual defense, saying, “because they are a weapon of strength in the spiritual warfare.”
Medjina insisted that Augustin was not suffering from any medical or psychological condition but had instead been fighting for both of them.
Following the incident, Augustin was taken into custody at Chatham County jail, where he faces multiple charges, including misdemeanour battery, obstruction of law enforcement, and felony criminal property damage.
Authorities also cited “probable cause” for additional federal charges related to interference with flight crew members.
In response to the ordeal, American Airlines expressed gratitude for the professionalism of the crew and the patience of passengers, stating, “We appreciate the professionalism of the entire crew and thank our passengers for their understanding.”
