Airport News
Traveler at DFW Airport who punched gate agent could get 10 years
DFW Airport
A Florida man who assaulted a gate agent at DFW Airport has pleaded guilty to interfering with security personnel.
On January 22, 53-year-old Keith Charles Owens pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging interference with security screening personnel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham, Owens admitted he assaulted an American Airlines gate agent at DFW Airport on October 5, 2024.
Security footage showed Owens repeatedly punching the gate agent in the head.
According to court documents, around 4:42 pm, Owens approached the gate agent at gate A36, explained he was late, and tried to scan his boarding pass. When the gate agent informed him he was at the wrong gate, Owens cursed and walked away.
The agent radioed the correct gate, A35, to inform airline personnel that Owens was headed their way and appeared to be intoxicated.
Owens then walked onto the A35 jet bridge without scanning his boarding pass. Airline personnel removed him from the jet bridge.
A few minutes later, at 4:48 pm, Owens went back to gate A36 and began yelling at the gate agent, grabbed him by the shoulders, and punched him repeatedly in the face and neck. Eventually, airline personnel were able to restrain him.
Both the gate agent and the personnel who assisted in restraining Owens sustained minor injuries. The flight departing from gate A36 was delayed.
Owens now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing has been set for May 2, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Beck is prosecuting the case.
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