Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Woman Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Punching Flight Attendant

A California woman who punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in the face during a flight, breaking her teeth, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison
(image via Southwest Facebook page)

A California woman has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for punching a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in the face during a flight, breaking her teeth, The altercation centered around the woman refusing to wear her face mask properly.

She will also be required to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution and a $7,500 fine for the assault on a May 23, 2021, Southwest flight between Sacramento and San Diego.

Following her time in prison, Vyvianna Quinonez, 29, will spend three years on supervised release during which she will be prohibited from flying. She’ll also be required to participate in anger management classes, per the orders of the federal judge in San Diego.

From CBS News:

Quinonez last year pleaded guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, admitting she punched the flight attendant in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbed her hair. Neither she nor her attorney could be reached for comment Tuesday.

During the flight’s final descent, the attendant had asked Quinonez to buckle her seat belt, stow her tray table, and put on her face mask properly.

Instead, Quinonez began recording the attendant on her cellphone, pushed her, then stood up and punched the woman in the face and grabbed her hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said.

The assault was recorded on another passenger’s cellphone.

Related: ‘Duct Taped Passenger’ Gets 60 Days In Jail For Assault

I’m personally glad to see these prison sentences being doled out to unruly passengers. Flight attendants were just trying to do their job and keep people safe.

Why on earth this Quinonez woman thought she had the right to punch someone over a face mask boggles the mind.