Man arrested for attacking Air Busan flight attendant

By Kim Jae-heun

An Air Busan flight from Gimhae International Airport to Japan returned from the runway before takeoff Thursday after a 35-year-old man assaulted a crew member for accidently scratching his hand.

The plane returned to the departure gate and the assailant, surnamed Kim, was handed over to waiting police officers. Due to the incident, it departed 50 minutes behind schedule, with 180 passengers on board.

The Air Busan flight, which was supposed to leave for Osaka at 4:45 p.m., was on its way to the runway when the pilot was informed of the incident and turned the aircraft around.

According to Air Busan and Gimhae International Airport, Kim asked a flight attendant to put his travel bag and coat in an overhead locker. While taking the coat, the crewmember allegedly scratched Kim's hand and he got upset.

The flight attendant apologized right away and left, but when she returned to explain about safety procedures, Kim punched her left arm twice and began choking her.

Police revealed that Kim was an ethnic Korean from Japan, and while having a Korean passport he does not speak Korean. Kim is currently undergoing questioning through an interpreter.

Airport Police said Kim can be charged with assault and interfering in the cabin crew's duty, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

“Our flight attendant apologized profusely after she accidently scratched the man's hand, but he seemed like he did not understand,” an Air Busan official said. “I guess there was a miscommunication between the two, however, it was inappropriate for the man to assault our crew member. We handed him over to police right away.”

After questioning, Kim was handed over to the Busan Gangseo Police Station.