Spirit Airlines: Tennessee woman charged with alleged assault on a plane
Amanda Renee Henry was charged with felony criminal mischief for disrupting a flight crew following a November 27 flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Nashville.
During the flight, Henry allegedly consumed so many alcoholic beverages that one of the crew members decided to cut her, according to the criminal indictment. She was reportedly disturbed, appeared to be intoxicated and was seen by other passengers steaming during the flight. Henry, 43, is also said to have made other male passengers uncomfortable when she laid her hands on one of them and made lewd sexual advances, according to the complaint.
When the flight attendants asked Henry to change his seat, which was located next to an emergency exit and for the safety of the other passengers, she must have shouted: “I am getting off this plane.”[ads1];
Prosecutors said Henry headed for the cabin door, and one of the flight attendants blocked her way and tried to hold her back. Another flight attendant helped hold Henry, who kicked and pulled the hair of one of the crew members until they were able to handcuff her and put her in a seat, according to the complaint.
An off-duty firefighter, who happened to be a passenger on the plane, had to sit with Henry and keep her calm until the plane landed at Nashville International Airport where she was briefly detained by local police on a public Russian charge, according to a news release.
After further investigation by the FBI, Henry was charged with disturbing flight crew members and companions.
Henry is expected to have his first appearance on Tuesday in the Middle District of Tennessee. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine.
