Australian Man Attacked And Grabbed TSA Agent By Hair Over Lost Passport Confusion In Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles International Airport reported an assault on a Transportation Security Administration agent by an Australian passenger preparing to leave the country. The incident occurred about a month ago, when the Melbourne resident allegedly attacked the officer on duty during a dispute over a misplaced passport.

Following the incident, a criminal complaint was filed against the passenger in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The passenger reportedly grabbed the TSA agent by the hair at one point before being restrained.

On March 15, the passenger Thomas Jesse Bingham attacked a Transportation Security Administration officer on duty at Los Angeles International Airport. The officer, identified as M.R., was inside a restroom between Terminals 6 and 7. Bingham approached the uniformed officer and accused him of stealing his backpack and passport. The officer told the passenger he could not help him and walked out of the restroom.

Bingham followed the officer, yelled at him, and grabbed his hand. He then pushed the agent toward a parked airport golf cart and grabbed him by the lanyard.

The Transportation Security Administration officer was punched in the face by the passenger, before Thomas Jesse Bingham grabbed M.R. by his hair. The officer tried to resist the attack but was pushed into a glass wall. Bingham was later restrained as additional personnel arrived to assist the officer.

The U.S. Department of Justice described the attack in a statement, writing, “Bingham then (allegedly) forcibly assaulted the victim by grabbing the victim’s uniform, pulling the victim’s TSA identification lanyard off his neck, grabbing and pulling the victim’s hair, and pushing him into a glass wall.”

After the incident, the airport police immediately arrested Thomas Jesse Bingham. He was indicted on one charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, intimidating or interfering with federal officers on duty. Meanwhile, Officer M.R. was rushed to medical examination, as he reportedly experienced pain in his hand and back.

Incidentally, investigating officers later found Bingham’s lost backpack and passport inside a restaurant in Terminal 7. He had visited the place before attacking the TSA agent. The flyer was released from custody, but then again re-arrested in the Los Angeles airport itself as he tried boarding a flight to the United Kingdom.

On April 16, Bingham’s arraignment was held at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. During the proceedings, the 35-year-old pleaded not guilty before the court.

Thus, a jury trial has been scheduled for May 12. If convicted, the Australian native could face up to eight years of imprisonment. The case is now being jointly investigated by the TSA Office of Law Enforcement / Investigations and the Los Angeles Airport Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Mackie from the General Crimes Section will be the chief prosecutor of the case.