First-class passenger sentenced to prison after she interfered with crew members aboard flight that had to be diverted

A New York girl has been sentenced to 4 months in prison for interfering with crew members aboard a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles final 12 months that had to be diverted to Phoenix, in accordance to federal prosecutors.

They mentioned Kelly Pichardo and one other first-class passenger engaged in intimidating conduct on the flight and each girls had to be faraway from the aircraft after it landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Feb. 24, 2021.

Authorities mentioned the ladies every assaulted a passenger through the flight and used racial slurs when a male passenger requested them to cease.

Pichardo additionally allegedly spit on the man when he tried to report the altercation.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Phoenix police and the 2 girls had been indicted for disorderly conduct for verbally and bodily assaulting different prospects and flight crew members.

Prosecutors mentioned Pichardo, a 32-year-old resident of the Bronx, has been ordered to pay practically $9,200 restitution to American Airlines on account of the altercation.

They say Pichardo additionally will serve three years of supervised launch following her prison sentence.

“There is a line between boorish behavior on an airplane and criminal activity, and the defendant clearly crossed it,” U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino said.  “First class passengers are not immune from prosecution: defendant’s verbal and physical intimidation disrupted the travel of passengers and crew alike.”

The different feminine passenger concerned within the incident, Leeza S. Rodriguez, has pleaded responsible and can be sentenced in November.

After the incident, American Airlines mentioned the 2 girls had been “placed on the internal refuse list pending further investigation.”

Each airline retains its personal inner ban checklist, which is separate from the federal No-Fly checklist. Delta Airlines, which mentioned it has banned greater than 1,600 passengers for the reason that federal authorities began requiring passengers to put on masks, has referred to as on airways to share their lists.