Man allegedly punches sleeping passenger in the face in bloody, unprovoked attack on United Airlines flight

A man is accused of viciously attacking a sleeping passenger on a United Airlines flight Monday afternoon, leaving him bloody and bruised, federal authorities said.

The attack occurred on a flight from San Francisco International Airport in California to Dulles International Airport in Virginia, court documents show.

Authorities said Everett Chad Nelson left his seat in 35F about two hours into the flight and went to the bathroom at the front of the plane.

On the way back to his seat, Nelson allegedly stopped at seat 12F and “without notice, began physically assaulting a sleeping male passenger by repeatedly punching him in the face and head until blood was drawn,” according to court records.

The victim, who is not identified in court documents, woke up screaming.

During the alleged one-minute attack, blood splattered on Nelson’s jacket, the chair, the wall and the window, the filing said. The victim had bruises on his eyes and a cut on his nose. During the flight he was treated by a doctor.

Authorities said a fellow passenger intervened and monitored Nelson in a seat near the front of the plane until it landed in Virginia. No other incidents occurred during the flight.

Nelson had no visible injuries, according to the filing, and it does not appear the victim struck him in self-defense.

United Airlines thanked customers and crew members for quickly restraining Nelson.

“The flight landed safely and was met by paramedics and local law enforcement,” the airline said in a statement.

Nelson was charged with assault by beating, beating and wounding. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.