A flight from Georgia to Miami operated by American Airlines had to turn back after a passenger, convinced that demonic spirits were following him onto the plane, swallowed rosary beads and violently attacked a flight attendant in the aircraft’s aisle. This bizarre incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Savannah on Monday evening (March 10). The 31-year-old passenger was reportedly “screaming and shaking,” initially leading the crew to believe he was experiencing some form of crisis.
However, things took an odd turn when the passenger began swallowing the rosary beads, claiming he was trying to ward off “Satan’s disciples” who had followed him onto the flight, according to court documents obtained by The New York Times. When the flight attendants approached him, he struck one forcefully in the chest, sending them flying down the aisle and crashing into a window, as stated in sworn testimony.
The pilots safely returned the plane to Savannah, but the passenger continued causing disturbances as the crew attempted to disembark other passengers. He moved to the front of the aircraft and started kicking a flight attendant before being tackled to the ground by fellow passengers and his traveling companion—his sister.
Upon arrest, the man’s sister told authorities they were traveling to Haiti to escape “spiritual religious attacks.” During the flight, the passenger reportedly told her to “close her eyes and pray because Satan’s disciples had followed them onto the plane and didn’t want them to reach Haiti.” She explained that swallowing the rosary was seen as “a weapon of power in spiritual warfare.”
Only eight passengers were aboard during the incident, and no one suffered serious injuries. In a statement, American Airlines praised the professionalism of their crew and thanked passengers for their understanding. The man, who was hospitalized after swallowing parts of the rosary, later faced several charges, including misdemeanor assault and destruction of property.