Multiple injuries reported as brawl erupts on US flight

A woman on-board a Delta Airlines flight in the United States may have ended up on Santa's naughty list, after causing an in-flight "disturbance" that led to multiple injuries.

Atlanta Police were waiting for passenger Patricia Cornwall on December 23 when her flight from Tampa, Florida to Atlanta landed.

Officials said she was taken to the Atlanta police precinct and later taken into custody by the FBI.

“When the aircraft arrived at the gate, officers were able to meet with exiting passengers who advised that the suspect, Ms Patricia Cornwall, had caused a disturbance while in the air,” officials said in a press release from December 25.

“This disturbance (led) to the injury of fellow passengers and Delta employees. Based on the statements gathered and visible evidence, officers detained Ms Cornwall and contacted the on-call FBI agent.”

Video shows an argument over masks between passengers

Ms Cornwell reportedly caused a brawl that injured fellow passengers as well as Delta Airlines employees.

In a video shared to Instagram by user mikeyblue23 from the Tampa-to-Atlanta Delta flight, Ms Cornwell is seen standing in the aisle swearing at a male passenger over his apparent refusal to wear a mask.

In the video, she continues to argue with the man behind her telling him to wear his face covering. Ms Cornwell has her own mask pulled down under her chin.

The man repeatedly calls her a "f**king Karen," as she tells him to "put his f**king mask on."

They continue to argue as Delta employees are seen trying to calm the woman down, as she proceeds to swear at the male passenger.

In a clip posted by ATL Uncensored of the incident, a passenger reports that the woman “went crazy on the airplane, punched this man in the face, spit on him, scratched him (and) poured hot water on my leg.”

The extent of injuries and the cause of the disturbance is unknown.

Cases against those who 'endanger safety' prioritised

The Justice Department Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement on November 24 ahead of the holidays, directing US attorneys general to prioritise cases against those who “endanger the safety of passengers, flight crews and flight attendants.”

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“Passengers who assault, intimidate or threaten violence against flight crews and flight attendants do more than harm those employees; they prevent the performance of critical duties that help ensure safe air travel,” Attorney General Garland said.

“Similarly, when passengers commit violent acts against other passengers in the close confines of a commercial aircraft, the conduct endangers everyone aboard.”

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