United States v. Harry Ernest Meeker

Meeker appeals from his conviction, after a jury trial, on three counts of interfering with flight crew members in performance of their duties in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 1472 (j) and one count of assault in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 113 . We affirm.

Meeker was a passenger on a National Airlines non-stop flight from Miami, Florida, to San Francisco, California. He had several alcoholic drinks prior to the flight and after departing Miami, left his seat, made bizarre remarks to a female passenger and later began hitting another passenger sitting directly behind him. In response to the reported altercation, the co-pilot entered the cabin from the cockpit to investigate, observed Meeker arguing with another passenger in the aisle and instructed both men to return to their seats. Meeker refused to be seated and struck the co-pilot who thereafter returned to the cockpit. Meeker then struck an off-duty flight engineer. Thereafter another fight started between Meeker and the person with whom he earlier argued in the aisle. Meeker was wrestled to the floor where the pilot, who had come from the cockpit, and passengers subdued him and strapped him down. The pilot decided to divert…