Man Arrested on Flight after Punching Teen

By Terry Green
Dec 30 2010

Russell Miller was taken into police custody yesterday in Boise, Idaho after punching a teenager on a flight from Las Vegas.

According to the police report, Miller was onboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Boise. At one point the flight attendant asked that all electronic devices be powered down, which is standard protocol when a plane is approaching its landing strip. The electronic devices are turned off to ensure that no disturbance between the plane and the tower takes place.

Witnesses say that a young teenager was playing a video game and listening to music on his iPhone. The teen did not respond to the flight attendants orders to turn off the device. At that time Russell Miller got up from his seat, approached the teen and then punched him.

At this time there is no known motive for the assault. However, witnesses have said that Miller was extremely grumpy during the entire flight and spent a great deal of time complaining about the plane and other passengers.

After the assault several passengers restrained Miller and returned him to his seat. The pilot called ahead to the tower and asked that Boise police be on hand. When the plane landed all passengers were ordered to stay in their seats and the police boarded the plane and took Miller into custody.

He is currently charged with a misdemeanor assault stemming from the incident. He will be due in court within the next week to answer for the charges.