Man admits to trying to take off clothes, jumping on beverage cart on American Airlines flight

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Washington man on Thursday pleaded guilty to allegations that he jumped on a beverage cart and tried to take off his clothes during a flight from Seattle to Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this year, according to the Department of Justice.

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Court records show 33-year-old Adam Alexander Williams, of Auburn, pleaded guilty to a charge of interference with flight crew members and attendants. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Officials said that Williams started yelling on a Jan. 9 American Airlines flight before he “jumped over passengers in his row and on to a beverage cart that was in service.” He nearly landed on a flight attendant when he got off the beverage cart, pushing her into a seat and knocking drinks and cups onto the ground before he began to run down the aisle of the plane, authorities said.

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“Another flight attendant was able to calm Williams down and escort him to his seat,” according to officials. However, “about 10 minutes later, Williams began to act up again and screamed an obscenity.”

Flight attendants put several U.S. Marines who were on the flight into seats around Williams, authorities said, but about 10 minutes later, Williams “stood up and began screaming while taking off his clothes.”

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The plane’s captain turned the aircraft around and landed in Billings to have Williams removed, officials said.

Williams agreed to plead guilty last month in exchange for prosecutors asking that his maximum sentence be reduced, court records show. He is scheduled to appear for a sentencing hearing Oct. 20.

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