Florida Man Sentenced for Assaulting DFW Gate Agent

Keith Charles Owens, a 53-year-old Florida man, was sentenced to four months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for assaulting an American Airlines gate agent at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in October 2024. Owens pleaded guilty to interference with security screening personnel and was ordered to pay nearly $6,000 in restitution. The incident began when Owens, appearing intoxicated, tried to board at the wrong gate and, after being redirected, attempted to access a jet bridge without scanning his boarding pass. After being removed by airline staff, Owens returned to the original gate, where he yelled at and repeatedly punched the gate agent in the head and neck before being restrained by personnel. The attack caused minor injuries to the agent and staff and resulted in a delayed flight. The case was investigated by the FBI and the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety.