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A Delta Air Lines passenger was arrested and charged with a federal offense after a flight attendant alleged he slapped her on the buttocks during in-flight service in May, according to court records.Cody James Maluck, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on June 9 for interference with crew members or attendants, considered a federal crime. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Maluck was on board Delta flight 800 on May 9, which departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for Los Angeles. During the flight, an airline attendant, identified in the court filing as "P.L.L.," walked down the aisle for beverage service.According to the complaint, P.L.L. "believed (Maluck) to be asleep and initially passed by his seat" and began assisting a nearby passenger when she "felt a slap to her buttocks area with sufficient force to cause her body to move forward." She then turned around immediately and saw Maluck "raising his hands and stating words to the effect of, 'I didn't do anything.'"Another flight attendant told investigators that she heard P.L.L. yell and saw her body move "as if she had been struck or pushed," the complaint said. Crew members then suspended the in-flight service.According to the complaint, Maluck said he didn't hear anyone asking if he wanted a beverage because he was wearing headphones. He added that he didn't mean to "harm or disrespect" P.L.L. but was trying to get her attention.Maluck admitted that he "did touch" P.L.L.'s buttocks area but claimed not to "slap her" hard enough to move her forward, the complaint added.P.L.L. said she reported the incident to a lead flight attendant, who then notified the pilot. The pilot decided to divert the flight to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.Authorities from the Atlanta Police Department met the aircraft upon arrival and detained Maluck. He was later arrested and taken to the Atlanta City Detention Center, and the case was handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The Atlanta Police Department declined to comment, referring to federal authorities. The FBI office in Atlanta did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.Delta: 'Zero tolerance for disruptive or unruly behavior'A Delta spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement that the airline has "zero tolerance for disruptive or unruly behavior" in its flights."We will always cooperate with law enforcement to address such conduct and protect our people," the airline added.According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been 687 reports of unruly passengers in 2026 so far, with 33 enforcement actions initiated against them. On May 31, a Frontier Airlines passenger tried to open the plane's exit doors mid-flight and then choke an off-duty flight attendant, according to an affidavit.The incident caused the flight to make an emergency landing, and the 51-year-old man is facing a misdemeanor battery charge.
