Atlanta-bound passenger Jessica Bennett and her two year old child were flying aboard Delta Airlines on February 8th when something absolutely shocking and angering happened.

As the plane was coming in for a landing, her baby boy couldn’t help but cry. Most normal human beings wouldn’t have a problem with that, but Joe Rickey Hundley did. According to KBOI, the FBI says the Idaho man slapped the boy and then demanded Bennett “to shut that (‘N word’) baby up.” Hundley had been sitting next to Bennett during the flight and he scratched the boy below the eye when he struck him.

FBI special agent Daron Cheney stated in an affidavit that “Ms. Bennett received assistance from several people on the plane, including male passenger Todd Wooten,” who heard the incident a few rows up and immediately came to Bennett’s aid.





Hundley is being charged with assault and is not in custody at this time. A court date has yet to be scheduled.

Of course, one wonders if Hundley will be charged with child abuse as well. Hitting a child is a despicable act, and hurling a racial epithet at the poor boy makes the situation even more disgusting. Instead of waiting a few minutes for the plane to land or politely asking Bennett to calm the child, Hundley hit the boy and used a word that nobody deserves to be called. If and when this goes to court, the judge should throw the book at Hundley if he’s found guilty. But all we can do for the moment is wait and see what the judicial system does.