An American Airlines flight to Miami was forced to turn back after a passenger—convinced that “Satan’s disciple(s)” had followed him onto the aircraft—swallowed rosary beads and allegedly kicked a flight attendant in the chest. According to the New York Times, 31-year-old Delange Augustin began “yelling and shaking” shortly after the American Airlines flight took off from Savannah, Georgia, on Monday night. The crew at first assumed he was having a seizure, only to discover that he thought there was some kind of demonic spirit in the cabin—and was swallowing rosary beads to protect himself from what an FBI report into the incident described as “Satan’s disciple(s).” The flight was turned around but Augustin allegedly attacked crew members again as it landed back in Georgia and had to be restrained by fellow passengers. Augustin’s sister, who was with him on the flight, told authorities they had been traveling to Haiti to “flee religious attacks of a spiritual nature.” Augustin faces a number of charges, including misdemeanor battery and criminal property damage. “We appreciate the professionalism of the entire crew and thank our passengers for their understanding,” American Airlines said in a statement.
