Man accused of hurling homophobic slurs, assaulting crew member on flight to Phoenix

PHOENIX — A man was accused of assaulting a crew member and using homophobic slurs on a flight from Atlanta to Phoenix last week, authorities said.

Christopher Morgan was in first class before the Wednesday flight when he refused to comply with an attendant’s requests to put his seat upright and put on his seatbelt, according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.

The flight attendant had to put up Morgan’s seat before the plane departed.

Later in the flight, the attendant told Morgan he wouldn’t be served a second alcoholic drink. He responded by calling the flight crew member homophobic slurs and threw a cup of ice at the employee, according to court documents.

The flight attendant then attempted to use the airplane telephone to tell the crew of the incident, but Morgan grabbed it, hit the employee in the chest with it, then threw the phone.

Morgan was arrested upon the flight’s arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Morgan told investigators he is homophobic and the flight attendant was gay, which made him uncomfortable, according to court documents.

Morgan faces charges of interfering with a flight crew member.

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