Man federally charged for injuring flight attendant while attempting to leave plane mid-flight

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A man was federally charged for injuring a flight attendant in an attempt to exit a plane mid-air on a flight from Milwaukee to Dallas-Fort Worth on Tuesday, Nov. 19. 

Twenty-nine-year-old Abdul-al-Jabbar Oloruntoba Olaiya was charged via a criminal complaint with interfering with a flight crew by assault or intimidation. 

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, North District of Texas, court documents show that around two hours into the flight, Olaiya became frustrated with a flight attendant as she worked the forward galley.

Witnesses told law enforcement they heard Olaiya tell her he was “captain of this flight” and needed to “get off the plane." He then allegedly charged at the flight attendant, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. She used her body to shield the door and was injured in the scuffle. 

Passengers went to assist her, and they subdued Olaiya and duct taped his wrists and ankles. 

CBS 58's Kathryn Merck previously spoke to a passenger that was on the plane. 

“I could hear her tell him ‘Sir, you need to go back to your seat’ and he was not cooperating," said plane passenger Doug McCright to CBS 58's Kathryn Merck.

Upon landing, Olaiya was removed from the plane by officers and taken in for a mental evaluation.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.