By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-13 20:02:08 | Updated at 2025-03-14 10:12:14
14 hours ago
An American Airlines passenger was caught on camera throwing wild punches at flight attendants after he said evil spirits followed him onto a flight.
Delange Augustin, 31, started lashing out just one minute into the Envoy Flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Miami, Florida, on Monday evening.
He had been traveling with his sister, identified as Medjina Augustin, who told authorities they were going to Haiti to 'flee religious attacks of a spiritual nature'.
Shortly after take off, authorities say he kicked a staff member so hard in the chest he sent them over a row of seats and swallowed a set or rosary beads.
His outburst was caught on camera by fellow travelers which included Rob Rosenberg, who has since described the horrific scenes to CBS News Miami.
In footage obtained by the outlet, Augustin can be seen wildly throwing kicks and punches at an attendant.
He is seen holding onto his sister - who told authorities after the ordeal that her brother had told her to pray as 'Satan's disciples had followed them onto the plane'.
Other passengers had to move into restrain Augustin, before authorities quickly boarded the flight when the pilot decided to quickly return to Savannah.
Delange Augustin, 31, started lashing out just one minute into the Envoy Flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Miami, Florida , on Monday
In footage obtained by the outlet, Augustin can be seen wildly throwing kicks and punches at an attendant
Rosenberg was one of those who had to step in and restrain Augustin after he ran for the galley and started throwing haymakers at staff members onboard.
Speaking with the outlet, Rosenberg said: 'He started stomping his feet violently, and heavily.
'It was kind of a chant he was talking about devils and possession, you kind of had to see it to believe it.
'He was being so violent you were like "this is not normal", he destroyed this other mans seat, he kicked it and punched and just buckled the seat over.
'He just charged the front doors of the plane' which is when Rosenberg, his friend and another passenger stepped in to restrain him.
Airport police soon bordered the aircraft, with Rosenberg saying they tasered Augustin multiple times.
Rosenberg said that Augustin was gripping onto his sister, identified as Medjina Augustin, by the hair, and that officers had to cut her hair off as he refused to let go.
As he was arrested his sister started singing what sounded like hymns, according to Rosenberg.
Augustin was taken into custody by The Chatham County Sheriff's Office and charged with battery, obstruction of law enforcement, and criminal damage
According to an arrest affidavit seen by DailyMail.com, he had swallowed the rosary beads to use as 'a weapon of strength in the spiritual warfare' prior to his outburst.
Pilots onboard the flight heard the commotion unfolding on the flight and turned the plane around to land back in Savannah - but that didn't halt Augustin's behavior.
He started to then punch and kick the seat of the passenger in front of him and kicked a chair until it collapsed.
When the official announcement came over the cabin that they would be returning to the airport, Augustin is said to have calmed down.
After touching back down and taxiing to the gate, a flight attendant asked everyone to remain seated.
That was when he stormed the galley and cornered the flight attendant in the newly obtained video.
Augustin had to be taken to hospital after ingesting the rosary beads, with the two flight attendants being evaluated but refusing hospital transport.
His sister had told authorities that she wasn't surprised about her brother's outburst, saying he 'hurt anyone because he hurts evil'.
According to her, the spirits had followed them onboard as they did not want them to make it to Haiti.
The scenes had unfolded on an American Airlines Envoy flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Miami, Florida, on Monday
Delange Augustin, 31, was travelling on the flight with his sister, Medjina Augustin, who told authorities they were going to Haiti to 'flee religious attacks of a spiritual nature'
She also said that her brother was not suffering from any medical or mental health issues and that he had been fighting for both of them.
The affidavit also added that there was only eight passengers aboard the plane, and that no one was seriously injured.
Augustin was taken into custody by The Chatham County Sheriff's Office and charged with battery, obstruction of law enforcement, and criminal damage.
Savannah Solomon, a special agent with the F.B.I., wrote in the affidavit that there was also probably cause to arrest him with interfering with the flight crew.
In a statement, American Airlines said: 'On March 10, American Eagle flight 4162, operated by Envoy, with service from Savannah (SAV) to Miami (MIA) returned to SAV due to a disruptive passenger.
'Safety and security are our top priorities. We appreciate the professionalism of the entire crew and thank our passengers for their understanding.'
