Woman Smokes Cigarette on Plane, Punches Flight Attendant

[bambbbam2]

From
MyFox Colorado | Woman Smokes Cigarette on Plane, Punches Flight Attendant

DENVER (MyFOXColorado.com) - A plane was diverted to Denver International Airport after a passenger allegedly started smoking a cigarette, verbally attacked a flight attendant, and then punched her in the face on board a flight traveling from San Francisco to New York.

35-year-old Christina Szele of Woodside, New York could face up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines after being charged by Criminal Complaint for assault and interference with flight attendants.


Szele, who is still in federal custody, was a passenger aboard the JetBlue Airways flight on June 17 when she allegedly started smoking a cigarette at her seat.


After a flight attendant approached her and asked her to stop, Szele allegedly yelled racial obscenities at the attendant.


Flight attendants then attempted to restrain Szele with flex cuffs which she later broke through.


Szele then punched an attendant in the face before she was restrained for a second time. The pilot then decided to divert the flight to DIA where she was detained and questioned by Denver Police.


Szele is scheduled for a detention hearing on June 23 at 10:30 a.m. in U.S. District Court.

 

[BiziBB]

As seen on FT.

I'd like to know how this person's lawyer will argue her case. No sign of trouble before boarding?

The Brat is back!

 

[coco50]

I don't reckon the penalties are harsh enough. These days anyone who interferes with the safety of pax and crew on an aircraft should get life. In the LOTFAP she will probably get off and be able to sue the airline for unlawful restraint. Come to think of it that's about what would happen here!

 

[rwatts]

I don't reckon the penalties are harsh enough. These days anyone who interferes with the safety of pax and crew on an aircraft should get life. In the LOTFAP she will probably get off and be able to sue the airline for unlawful restraint. Come to think of it that's about what would happen here!

Actually I think she will be treated far more harshly in the US than she would be in Australa. The US seems to have lost all sense of humour (not totally unreasonably so) when it comes to aviation safety and security matters.

Richard.

 

[NYCguy]

I don't reckon the penalties are harsh enough. These days anyone who interferes with the safety of pax and crew on an aircraft should get life. In the LOTFAP she will probably get off and be able to sue the airline for unlawful restraint. Come to think of it that's about what would happen here!

The "life" thing is a little OTT. America has enough prisoners serving sentences which are disproportionally long for the crime they committed. Acting like an antisocial moron and physically attacking someone certainly deserves a custodial sentence, but suggesting that life in prison is warranted smacks of hysteria.

I also disagree with the comment about the LOTFAP being soft on crime - this is the country where (in some states, at least) posession of a joint can get you 20 years in gaol, and committing murder can see you getting strapped down with a needle in your arm. The outlandishly harsh sentences don't seem to deter anyone from committing crimes, but to suggest that the Americans are soft on crime is folly.

 

[Flying Fox]

Flight attendants then attempted to restrain Szele with flex cuffs which she later broke through.

I want to know how she got through the flexi-cuffs? Assuming that they are the same thing that police forces use, ie. one way tie type of things.

 

[NM]

I want to know how she got through the flexi-cuffs? Assuming that they are the same thing that police forces use, ie. one way tie type of things.

I can only surmise they were not properly applied in the first place.

 

[Mal]

$10000 bail, not allowed to fly on planes or drink alcohol while on bail.

Next court appearance 9 July. Will be interesting to how this progresses.

Lovely mugshot of her as part of this article: 1010 WINS - On-Air, Online, On Demand - Queens Woman Accused of Punching Air Crew Free on Bail

 

[straitman]

$10000 bail, not allowed to fly on planes or drink alcohol while on bail.

Next court appearance 9 July. Will be interesting to how this progresses.

Lovely mugshot of her as part of this article: 1010 WINS - On-Air, Online, On Demand - Queens Woman Accused of Punching Air Crew Free on Bail

A great photo

 

[NYCguy]

A great photo

Yep, she's from Queens alright!

 

[medhead]

These days anyone who interferes with the safety of pax and crew on an aircraft should get life.

She well overreacted but the only person's safety she interferred with was the one crew member getting punched. Interfere with pax safety! How exactly, passive smoking? Then go to any beer garden and lock all those smokers up for life for interfering with the safety of people.

As for getting out of flexi-cuffs, it's easy if you know how.

 

[bambbbam2]

Link to the smokinggun.com mug shots and police reports.

Warning - contains very bad language!

Smoking Woman In Air Rage - June 19, 2008

 

[oz_mark]

Yep, she's from Queens alright!

I'm going cross-eyed. I read that as she works for Qantas alright!

 

[straitman]

I'm going cross-eyed. I read that as she works for Qantas alright!

This is a she not a he. ie is from Queens rather than is a Queen :!:

 

[JohnK]

Some people are just hopeless. I know someone who had a cigarette in the toilet on recent SYD-PVG flight but the smoke detector did not go off. The next person to go into the toilet noticed the cigarette smell and reported it to the FAs.

The person that had the cigarette in the toilet was spoken to sternly but as there is no proof, he just denied it, nothing could be done. What a dope!

 

[bambbbam2]

but the smoke detector did not go off.

probably just used the condom over the smoke detector trick.. apparently works just fine..

 

[NYCguy]

Some people are just hopeless. I know someone who had a cigarette in the toilet on recent SYD-PVG flight but the smoke detector did not go off. The next person to go into the toilet noticed the cigarette smell and reported it to the FAs.

The person that had the cigarette in the toilet was spoken to sternly but as there is no proof, he just denied it, nothing could be done. What a dope!

That nicotine gum works just fine - it used to get me through 14.5 hour legs when I smoked 25 a day. The old "franger over the detector" thing might stop befuddle it, but all you need is for some dimwit to throw their butt into the trash instead of flushing it, and the next thing you know it's "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!". Nasty.

 

[JohnK]

probably just used the condom over the smoke detector trick.. apparently works just fine..

Believe me when I say he is not that smart to think of doing something like that. He is arrogant, thinks he can get away with anything and in this case got away with it.

Back in the days when I used to smoke, heavily, I had no problems not having a cigarette on a long distance flight. Anyway....