2024-01-08 passenger

Passenger accused of punching flight attendant, forcing emergency landing in Amarillo, makes initial appearance in federal court

Keith Fagiana arrives at the J. Marvin Jones Federal Courthouse in Amarillo for his initial court appearance (Steve Douglass/KVII)

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The passenger accused of punching a flight attendant, forcing the plane to land in Amarillo, made his initial appearance in federal court.

ABC got exclusive video of Keith Edward Fagiana arriving at the J. Marvin Jones Federal Courthouse.

Details on his initial appearance have not been released.

Fagiana is charged with interference with a flight crew.

According to the criminal complaint, Fagiana cursed at a male flight attendant last Wednesday and punched him four times before he was tackled to the ground.

Fagiana told the FBI he did not remember anything that happened on the plane.

He admitted to drinking Captain Morgan rum at different bars in Las Vegas before his flight.

Airport police take Keith Fagiana off American Airlines Flight 1497 that was diverted to Amarillo on January 3, 2024. A passenger told ABC 7 that he punched a flight attendant (Credit: Dazia Poland)