Key facts
- Cody James Maluck, a Delta passenger, has been indicted on a federal charge of interfering with flight crew members.
- The charge stems from an alleged incident on a Delta flight where Maluck is accused of slapping a flight attendant's buttocks.
- The flight was diverted to Atlanta, where Maluck was detained.
- Maluck admitted to touching the flight attendant to get her attention but denied slapping her forcefully.
- The federal offense carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in jail.
A Delta passenger accused of slapping a flight attendant's buttocks has been indicted on a federal charge in Georgia. The alleged incident occurred on a Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles on May 9. The flight was diverted to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, where the passenger, identified as Cody James Maluck, was detained.