Four-month prison sentence handed down to Florida man who punched gate agent at DFW Airport

Fort Worth, Texas – A Florida man who violently attacked a gate agent at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has been sentenced to federal prison for his actions. Keith Charles Owens, 53, will spend four months behind bars after pleading guilty to interfering with security screening personnel, according to Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

In addition to his prison sentence, Owens was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay almost $6,000 in restitution for the assault, which disrupted airport operations and left airline staff with minor injuries.

Violent Outburst Captured on Security Footage

Court records reveal that Owens, who was traveling through DFW Airport on October 5, 2024, became aggressive when he was told he was at the wrong gate. Around 4:42 p.m., Owens approached a gate agent at gate A36 and attempted to scan his boarding pass. When the agent explained that he was at the wrong gate and directed him to gate A35, Owens cursed and walked away angrily.

The gate agent radioed ahead to warn personnel at gate A35, stating that Owens seemed intoxicated. Moments later, Owens attempted to board his flight through the A35 jet bridge without scanning his boarding pass. Airline staff intervened and removed him.

However, Owens did not stop there. Just minutes later, at 4:48 p.m., he returned to gate A36, visibly enraged. According to court documents, Owens began yelling at the gate agent, grabbed him by the shoulders, and repeatedly punched him in the face and neck. Security footage captured the brutal attack as other airline personnel rushed to restrain Owens and bring the situation under control.

The assault caused injuries not only to the gate agent but also to the staff who stepped in to help. Additionally, the incident delayed the flight scheduled to depart from gate A36.

Investigation and Sentencing

Following the incident, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Division partnered with the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety to investigate. Owens was charged in November 2024 and later pleaded guilty in January 2025.

U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor handed down the sentence, which includes the prison term, supervised release, and restitution order. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Beck prosecuted the case.

The sentence serves as a reminder that violent actions in airports and against airline personnel carry serious federal consequences.