Mother: Boy slapped on plane is now apprehensive - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

MINNEAPOLIS (WXOW) - The Minneapolis mother of a boy allegedly slapped by a passenger aboard an Atlanta-bound flight says the toddler has now become apprehensive of strangers.

Jessica Bennett told authorities that Joe Hundley slapped her 2-year-old boy in the face and called him a racial slur when the child was crying on a flight from Minneapolis on Feb. 8.

In a statement provided to KARE-TV, Bennett says the family has a lot of questions about how the 60-year-old passenger could get so out of control. She says it's caused emotional trauma to the entire family.

Hundley faces a federal charge of simple assault. Hundley's attorney, Marcia Shein, said Saturday he will plead not guilty.