Stafford Man Convicted Of Beating Deaf Passenger On Flight To Dulles

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A federal jury convicted 44-year-old Everett Chad Nelson of Stafford on Thursday for assaulting a deaf passenger during a flight from San Francisco to Dulles International Airport last year.

On Oct. 28, 2024, Nelson and the victim were passengers on United Airlines flight 2247 when the incident occurred.

“Without provocation, Nelson approached a sleeping, deaf passenger over twenty rows ahead of his seat, entered the passenger’s row, and began brutally punching the passenger in the face,” court records say. “Nelson punched the victim repeatedly and rapidly, using both hands, and landing forceful, violent blows on the victim’s cheeks, nose, and forehead. Nelson caused serious bodily injury to the victim, breaking his nose and leaving the victim with injuries that have required months of medical treatment.”

Another passenger who heard the commotion intervened and restrained Nelson for the remainder of the flight, court documents say. Nelson was arrested by the FBI once the plane landed in Dulles.

Nelson will be back in court for sentencing at a later date. He faces a possible sentence of 10 years in federal prison.