Plane Madness

Having been on both ends of the screaming toddler on plane problem, this next story is difficult to believe, from either standpoint.

Joe Rickey Hundley, a 60-year-old man from Idaho, decided he had had enough of the distressed 2-year-old and decided to ask the mother to quieten the infant down, however, his alleged choice of words probably didn’t help the situation, “Will you shut that n****r baby up!”

Just to drive home his point, when the infant wasn’t immediately silent, he got up, approached the mother and child, then reportedly slapped the baby in the face, causing a small cut below his right eye. Strangely, the toddler just screamed even louder.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with assault. His attorney, Marcia Shein, said that Hundley would be pleading not guilty. If convicted Hundley could face up to a year in prison.

The alleged happy slapper has already lost his job with AGC Aerospace and Defense, with the company saying that the alleged behavior of one of their employees on a recent flight was both “offensive and disturbing” and also advised the media that Hundley “is no longer employed with the company.” However, despite questions, the company refused to say if he resigned his position or was sacked.

The mother of the child, Jessica Bennet, 33, explained to officers the course of events during the final descent of the flight, this statement was backed up by exactly the same story given by an FBI special agent, Daron Cheney, who also submitted a sworn statement.

Ms. Bennett said to a local TV station that Hundley became increasingly obnoxious and was obviously very drunk, complaining that her son was too big to sit on her lap.

Hundley has just one previous conviction… for being drunk on a flight and assaulting a fellow passenger, as well as brandishing a corkscrew as a weapon. Surely, this man should seriously thing about using some other form of transport!