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Lawrence Wells, aged 54, of Richmond, California faces up to 10 years in prison over the 18 October incident that took place on board a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
According to the indictment, Wells assaulted the victim, identified only by her initials M.D, choking her and punching her in the head with a closed fist shortly after the plane took off.
“Approximately 10 minutes after the flight left the ground, the captain of the aircraft declared an emergency landing and returned to Los Angeles International Airport where law enforcement … responded to investigate the assault allegation,” the FBI said in a statement.
An FBI spokesperson said the victim suffered a concussion.
Witnesses say Wells became upset after the woman put her seat back.
