A flight from Savannah to Miami took a dramatic turn when a passenger reportedly swallowed rosary beads and assaulted flight attendants, according to court documents.
Delange Augustin, 31, was traveling on an Envoy Air flight operated by American Airlines when he began exhibiting erratic behavior “less than one minute after takeoff,” an affidavit by FBI Agent Savannah Solomon states.
His sister, Medjina Augustin, later told authorities that they were en route to Haiti to “flee religious attacks of a spiritual nature.” She claimed Delange had urged her to “close her eyes and pray” because he believed “Satan’s disciple(s)” were on board and trying to prevent them from reaching their destination. According to the filing, he swallowed rosary beads during the flight, believing they were a source of strength in spiritual warfare.
Initially, a flight attendant suspected he was experiencing an epileptic seizure as he began stomping, yelling, and shaking. However, when another crew member approached him, he allegedly kicked them in the chest with such force that they were thrown across the aisle and into a window.
Realizing the situation was not a medical emergency, crew members observed that his behavior appeared “purposeful, though difficult to describe.” Delange then allegedly kicked the seat in front of him repeatedly, even after the passenger occupying it moved and the chair collapsed.
Hearing the commotion, the pilots decided to return to Savannah, announcing the diversion to the passengers. The announcement reportedly calmed Delange until the plane landed safely at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
However, upon landing, he allegedly “stormed to the front” of the aircraft before the flight attendant could open the boarding door. Clutching his sister, he reportedly attempted to push through before throwing multiple punches at a crew member, striking her upper arm.
Three passengers intervened, restraining him and his sister until Airport Police arrived. Delange was taken to a hospital for evaluation, including treatment for ingesting rosary beads, before being transferred to the Chatham County Detention Center.
The flight attendants were also assessed by medical personnel.
In a statement to PEOPLE, American Airlines confirmed the incident, stating: “On March 10, American Eagle flight 4162, operated by Envoy, with service from Savannah (SAV) to Miami (MIA) returned to SAV due to a disruptive passenger. Safety and security are our top priorities. We appreciate the professionalism of the entire crew and thank our passengers for their understanding.”
