The assault occurred back in October 2024.
The assault occurred back in October 2024.
The assault occurred back in October 2024.
DALLAS — A Florida man has been sentenced to four months in federal prison for assaulting a gate agent at DFW Airport, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham announced.
Keith Charles Owens, 53, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to a criminal information charging interference with security screening personnel. In addition to prison time, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay nearly $6,000 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The assault occurred on Oct. 5, 2024. At approximately 4:42 p.m., Owens approached an American Airlines gate agent at Gate A36, told the agent he was late, and attempted to scan his boarding pass. The gate agent reportedly told him that he was at the wrong gate, and Owens cursed and walked away.
The attorney’s office said the agent then contacted the correct gate, Gate A35, and told them that Owens was heading that way and that he appeared to be intoxicated.
Moments later, Owens bypassed the boarding process at Gate A35 by walking onto the jet bridge without scanning his pass. He was removed by airline personnel. At 4:48 p.m., Owens returned to Gate A36, yelled at the gate agent, grabbed him by the shoulders, and repeatedly punched him in the face and neck. Airline staff eventually restrained Owens.
Both the gate agent and personnel who assisted in subduing him sustained minor injuries. The attack resulted in a delay of the departing flight at Gate A36.