The 20-year-old California man charged with assaulting an American Airlines flight attendant last week is claiming he suffers from psychological damage stemming from a skull injury from an assault last year, and he was acting in self defense.
According to an affidavit obtained by Denver7, Brian Hsu told FBI agents that he was returning home to California from New York on American Airlines flight 976, after receiving brain surgery in Rhode Island for a skull injury he sustained from an assault in New York last year. Hsu told investigators that he has psychological damage from the initial injury, including mental “fog” which makes it difficult think.
He told investigators that he was stretching outside the lavatory on the flight when he accidentally bumped the flight attendant, who “became agitated and began swinging at his head.” He said he became scared and held up his hands defensively to prevent the attendant from hitting him in the head to cause further damage or even death. The attendant then “charged at him and hit her nose against the palm of his right hand.”
But in the complaint, the flight attendant denied these claims and said Hsu was acting strange when he came to wait to use the lavatory.
The attendant said she felt Hsu strike her head, and when she turned around, he did not apologize for striking her, but instead stated he needed to use the restroom, the affidavit said.
After this incident, the flight attendant told Hsu to return to his seat and wait to use the lavatory there. But, according to the victim in the affidavit, Hsu instead raised his arms as though he was going to stretch and brought his elbow down striking her on her head. She took a defensive posture and he backed down before charging at her, flailing his arms, and allegedly struck her in the face with his right closed fist.
Hsu was restrained in his seat using duct tape following the incident. The plane was diverted to the Denver International Airport where he was arrested. The flight attendant was taken to the hospital where doctors told her that she had sustained a concussion and a possible nose fracture.
One witness said Hsu punched her in the face with enough force that caused her to hit the lavatory door. Another witness told authorities he struck her with a “full swing.”
Hsu has been charged with interference with a flight crew and assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He made his first appearance in US District Court in California on Monday and was released on a $10,000 bond. Hsu is due to appear in federal court in Denver on Nov. 15.