In October 2024, Keith Owens entered a guilty plea to assaulting a gate attendant at DFW Airport.(U.S. Justice Department)
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A 53-year-old Florida man is facing up to 10 years in federal prison for assaulting a DFW gate agent in October 2024.
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Keith Owens pleaded guilty to interference with security screening personnel.
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A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 2, 2025.
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A 53-year-old Florida man is facing up to 10 years in federal prison for assaulting a DFW gate agent in October 2024.
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Keith Owens pleaded guilty to interference with security screening personnel.
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A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 2, 2025.
DallasOn Wednesday, a man from Florida entered a guilty plea to attacking a gate attendant for American Airlines at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
We know:
Keith Charles Owens, 53, pled guilty Wednesday before Northern District of Texas Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton.
Owens faced accusations of interfering with security screening staff.
In October 2024, security footage captured Owens repeatedly striking a gate agent in the head.
Eventually, airline staff restrained him. Both the gatekeeper and the staff who held Owens were treated for minor wounds.
Timetable:
At approximately 4:42 p.m. on October 5, 2024, prosecutors said Owens went up to a gate agent at gate A36 and said that he was running late for his flight.
After informing Owens that he was at the incorrect gate, the agent at the correct gate informed Owens that he was on his way and seemed to be inebriated.
According to the prosecution, Owens was taken off the jet bridge when he tried to board the aircraft at Gate A35 without first scanning his boarding card.
When he got back to Gate A36 at 4:48 p.m., Owens allegedly began screaming at the gate agent before seizing him by the shoulders and striking him in the face and neck, according to the prosecution. Eventually, airline staff restrained Owens.
What is unknown to us:
Owens entered a guilty plea but was not sentenced. He might spend up to ten years behind bars.
On May 2, 2025, a sentence hearing is planned.
The U.S. Department of Justice is the source of the information in this article.
