A passenger flying first class with Delta Air Lines was arrested after being accused of getting drunk, forcibly kissing a male flight attendant, and breaking the tray and plates carrying the captain’s in-flight meal.
According to court records, the traveller was Texas native David Alan Burk, 61, who was travelling on DL 517 on April 10, 2023, from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).
According to the affidavit, Burk asked for red wine before the plane had even taken off. The first-class flight attendant, identified in the affidavit only as “T.C.,” informed Burk that he “ran out of time” and was unable to serve Burk his drink, despite the fact that first-class customers on Delta Air Lines are entitled to pre-departure beverages.
Burk apparently became “snippy” at that moment, and T.C. made it a point to offer Burk the red wine right away once takeoff was authorised.
When T.C. later returned to collect meal trays from passengers, Burk reached out to shake his hand. The document alleges that 10 minutes later, Burk got up to use the lavatory, but first made a stop at the galley where T.C. was.
Then, while T.C. was standing next to him, Burk allegedly said, “Oh, you’re so beautiful.”
Burk then enquired, “Can I have a kiss?” after T.C. had graciously thanked the passenger. Burk responded: “Okay, well on the neck then” after T.C.’s “No, thank you” response.
The affidavit alleged that Burk then grabbed T.C. before pulling him near and purposefully kissing him on the neck.
According to the document, T.C. later told investigators that the incident made him very uncomfortable and that he was “caught off-guard”.
After the incident, T.C. explained what had occurred to the other flight attendants and told them he would wait to get back to the front of the plane until Burk had returned to his seat.
When T.C. saw that Burk was in his seat, he returned to the front of the plane, and the other flight attendants informed him that Burk “had just broken the tray and plate containing the captain of the plane’s meal, which had not been served yet”.
After being informed by T.C. of the entire incident, the flight’s captain alerted Airport Dispatch. Burk was identified as a security threat and security protocols were engaged.
Burk was detained after the aircraft touched down in Anchorage, and when questioned by authorities, he denied the incident.
In a statement to FOX Business, the airline said: “Delta has no tolerance for inappropriate behavior on any of our aircraft or ground facilities. We are cooperating with law enforcement in this matter and thank the authorities for investigating and prosecuting unruly passenger conduct.”
