AUSTIN, Texas — After assaulting a flight attendant on a Southwest Airlines flight in Austin, a Tennessee man was sentenced to six months in prison. 

What You Need To Know

  • The incident happened on March 20, 2022, and according to court documents, it occurred after the flight landed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and was waiting for a gate to become available

  • Michael Goins Jr., 35, was heard loudly uttering expletives while on a phone call. Another passenger, who had a child, was disturbed by the language and that led to Goins’ aggressive behavior

  • During the altercation, Goins “intentionally and deliberately” punched the flight attendant’s upper abdomen and pushed her back

The incident happened on March 20, 2022, and according to court documents, it occurred after the flight landed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and was waiting for a gate to become available. 

Michael Goins Jr., 35, was heard loudly uttering expletives while on a phone call. Another passenger, who had a child, was disturbed by the language and that led to Goins’ aggressive behavior. During the altercation, Goins “intentionally and deliberately” punched the flight attendant’s upper abdomen and pushed her back. 

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, the six-month sentence is a statutory maximum. Goins will also have to pay $650 in restitution. 

“This prison sentence reflects the seriousness of these types of crimes and promotes respect for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas in a statement. “Airline passengers and employees should be able to travel safely, and this violent behavior cannot be tolerated.”