**Florida Man Faces Federal Charges After Mid-Flight Assault**

In a shocking turn of events on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., a Florida man unleashed a brutal attack on a fellow passenger. The seemingly unprovoked incident occurred around two hours into the flight, with the suspect identified as Everett Chad Nelson.

The chaos erupted when Nelson, returning from the restroom, suddenly stopped at the 12th row and began pummeling a sleeping passenger. The attack was so severe that blood splattered across Nelson's lime green windbreaker, other seats, walls, and windows. The victim, who suffered significant injuries including bruises around the eyes and a gash on the nose, was only saved when another passenger intervened.

The affidavit filed by an FBI special agent in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia details the aftermath of the assault. The injured passenger's screams ultimately drew the attention of a bystander who subdued Nelson and restrained him for the remaining three hours of the flight.

Upon the flight’s arrival at Dulles Airport, Nelson was promptly arrested by awaiting law enforcement. He now faces federal assault charges, with his court appearance scheduled for December 11. The victim's identity has not been released, and calls to Nelson's public defender have not been immediately returned.

United Airlines expressed gratitude for the swift actions of both passengers and crew, which allowed the flight to land as scheduled, met by paramedics and law enforcement at the gate. The Federal Aviation Administration has also launched an investigation into the incident.

The FAA noted that the aviation sector has been dealing with an uptick in unruly passengers, reporting approximately 1,700 such incidents this year alone. This latest episode underscores the escalating challenges airline staff and passengers face in maintaining safety and order in the skies.