Plane makes emergency landing after passenger kisses, punches attendant
An American Airlines flight bound for Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing Monday night due to an unruly passenger. According to witness accounts, “she was disoriented through the entire flight,” passenger Marian Frendt told ABC affiliate WLS-TV.
The first incident came after the woman, identified as Daniela Velez-Reyes by the Indianapolis Airport Authority, repeatedly kicked a fellow passenger’s seat.
“She started kicking the seat of the passenger in front of her, and he apparently turned around to complain and she hit him,” Frendt said.
When a flight attendant intervened, the woman allegedly grabbed the employee’s face and kissed her. According to another passenger, Velez-Reyes followed up the kiss by punching the attendant in the face.
That wasn’t the last of her violence. Authorities said Velez-Reyes then kicked a police officer while being apprehended.
After being escorted off the plane, Velez-Reyes faced a slew of charges including battery of a public safety officer, battery with injury, battery without injury, criminal recklessness, disorderly conduct and disruption of an aircraft, authorities said.
Following the disruption, which resulted in the flight being diverted to Indianapolis, the flight arrived in Chicago 90 minutes late.
Contact Caitlin Lilly at clilly@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @Caitiesmith