Delta Passenger Removed After Slapping Flight Attendant Mid-Flight

—A passenger on a Delta Air Lines flight was removed from the aircraft after slapping a flight attendant on the backside during the journey. The incident was reported to law enforcement upon landing and the passenger faces potential federal charges for assaulting a crew member. Airline workers' unions have repeatedly called for stronger penalties for in-flight assaults, citing a pattern of increased passenger misconduct since 2020. Federal law classifies assault on a flight crew member as a federal offense carrying significant fines and jail time.