Tuesday, February 19, 2013

60-year-old AGC'S Executive Terminated After Allegedly Slapping Toddler During Delta Flight

Joe Rickey Hundley and Jonah Bennett

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 19, 2013

Atlanta, Georgia - On Monday, ABC News reported that Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, of Hayden, Idaho has been terminated as an executive for AGC Aerospace and Defense Composite Group after being charged for simple assault in the slapping incident of Jonah Bennett who is 19-months-old during a flight from Minneapolis-to-Atlanta. Al Hasse, President and CEO of AGC confirmed to ABC News that Hundley was fired, but wouldn't discuss the particulars why Hundley as of Monday was no longer employed at AGC.
AGC released the following statement,  "Reports of the recent behavior of one of our business unit executives while on personal travel are offensive and disturbing. We have taken this matter very seriously and worked diligently to examine it since learning of the matter on Friday afternoon. As of Sunday, the executive is no longer employed with the company.
"We wish to emphasize that the behavior that has been described is contradictory to our values, embarrassing and does not in any way reflect the patriotic character of the men and women of diverse backgrounds who work tirelessly in our business."
According to the complaint, Jessica Bennett, 33, and her son Jonah were seating next to Hundley during their Delta flight. Jonah who was seating on Bennett's lap began to cry do to pressure change in his ears while the plane was descending.
Hundley who seemed intoxicated apparently told Bennett to shut the "N-word baby up" and then open hand slapped Jonah causing him to cry even more. Bennett noticed that her son Jonah had a scratch below one of his eyes. She told the FBI that Hundley had a strong smell of alcohol and acted intoxicated during the flight.
Witnesses in the flight heard Hundley uttering what sounded like racial slurs. 
Hundley was charged with a misdemeanor, according to the FBI who investigated the incident. Hundley is expected to plea not guilty.

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