( CNN ) -- An Idaho man has been charged with assaulting a minor after he allegedly uttered a racial slur and slapped a 2-year-old boy who cried on a Delta plane as it began the final descent into Atlanta , court papers show . Reached by phone Friday , Joe Rickey Hundley of Hayden , Idaho , declined to comment to CNN and referred inquiries to his attorney . The attorney could n't be immediately reached for comment Friday . Delta Air Lines is cooperating with the federal investigation into the altercation between two passengers , spokesman Paul Skrbec said . `` We apologize for any inconvenience this caused for the passengers onboard , '' he said . Air rage : Passengers 'quicker to snap ' The boy 's mother , Jessica Bennett , 33 , of Minnesota told the FBI that she and her son were seated in row 28 , seat B , on February 8 on Delta Flight 721 that originated in Minneapolis , according to an FBI agent 's affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta this week . The boy began crying because of the altitude change , and his mother tried to soothe him , court papers said . Then Hundley , who was seated next to the mother and son , allegedly told her to `` shut that ( ' N word ' ) baby up , '' according to court documents . Hundley then turned around and slapped the 2-year-old in the face with an open hand , which caused the child to scream even louder , the affidavit said . The boy suffered a scratch below his right eye , court papers said . Other passengers on the plane assisted Bennett , and one of them heard the slur and witnessed the alleged assault , the affidavit said . The plane landed at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International . The charge of simple assault on someone under age 16 carries a prison sentence of one year , court papers said . Hundley has since been suspended from his job pending the investigation . `` We understand that authorities are investigating the recent behavior of one of our business unit executives while on personal travel . The allegations are disturbing and are contradictory to our values , '' said Al Haase , president and CEO of AGC Aerospace & Defense , Composites Group . In 2007 , Hundley pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge filed in Virginia , according to court records . Kid-free 'Quiet Zones ' launched on airline . CNN 's Marlena Baldacci , Dave Alsup and Carma Hassan contributed to this report .
Delta Air Lines apologizes `` for any inconvenience '' caused by `` altercation '' between a passenger and crew member on board of flight from New York to San Francisco. Man beside them allegedly says `` shut that ( ' N word ' ) baby up , '' court papers say . He then allegedly slaps the crying boy in the face with an open hand , papers say .