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Passenger lights cigarette, punches flight attendant and diverts flight to Denver
We may have a new contender for worst passenger on an aircraft ever, ladies and gentlemen. Sorry Kyla and girls who think they're prettier than the rest of the plane, you may have met your match.On a Jetblue flight between San Francisco and New York this past Tuesday, Christina Szele just couldn't wait any any longer for a smoke and decided to light up in the cabin. Obviously this has been outlawed on planes for years, so a flight attendant went back to ask her to put it out.
In response to the request, Szele instead verbally abused the flight attendant with racist remarks, provoking futher concern from the crew. After further agitation, several employees decided to restrain her and were able to secure her well enough to apply flexible handcuffs.
Untill she broke out of them. And punched the flight attendant that she was earlier harrasing in the face. Great idea.
Things got so far out of hand that the pilot had to divert the flight into Denver and have the woman removed from the aircraft and arrested. Now she faces 20 years in prison and up to 250,000 in fines.
I think that they should have just thrown her out of the plane with a parachute.
More women behaving badly at 35,000 feet:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Brenda Jun 18th 2008 11:17PM
Well, I'm glad that she didn't make it to San Francisco. Sorry Denver! Since you're not allowed to smoke in most places out here, she would have had a tough time visiting here!
DeeGirl Jun 19th 2008 7:29PM
Yeah, as a former flt. attendant, I think she deserves what she's getting! Back 'in the day' people weren't that unruly after you'd catch 'em in the blue room (john). Was she living under a rock, or just had to have her nicotene fix??
Keith Thompson Jun 20th 2008 1:58AM
I think this is just one more example of passengers on planes that think they're the only ones that matter. As a smoker I have no sympathy for the lady. I too have made some long flights and had to wait what seemed like days to be able to light up again. But rules are rules people. Just because you don't like them or agree with them doesn't give you the right to pick and choose which ones you're going to break. As for her sentence, well she jeopardized the lives of the passengers and crew as well as people living in the flight path of that aircraft just because she was immature and threw a tantrum when she didn't get her own way. Not to mention the time and money it cost to divert the flight to Denver.
Nick Hawkins Jun 19th 2008 12:42AM
I wish stories like this had mugshots. :(
eerie quark doll Jun 19th 2008 2:29AM
Finally a valid opportunity to place someone on the no-fly list.
wes Jun 19th 2008 2:13PM
what did she light her smoke with? matches and lighters on a plane? how does this happen?
DONALD Jun 19th 2008 2:23PM
Wes,
I think you can carry matches even though
not permitted;
I do not think they are screened.
And airlines now let you take on
some basic lighters, but not the
"flame jet type."
Guy Salsburg Jun 19th 2008 7:06PM
One book of matches or one NON-BUTANE lighter has been allowed on planes for the last 3+ months. Thus, it is not difficult to light up a cigarrette, though it is illegal to do so.
A year or two in prison &/or a heavy fine might even encourage her to quit smoking. As to flying, she has already ensured she cannot do that.
b-show Jun 19th 2008 2:14PM
Do we know what brand name cigarettes was she smoking!!!!!!!!!!!!
sonja_blocker Jun 20th 2008 5:42AM
WHAT THE HELL DOES THE KIND SHE WAS USEING HAVE TO DO WITH IT ANYWAY.
garnett Jun 19th 2008 2:19PM
If she was having that bad of a nicotine fit she wouldn't need a parachute ..... just throw her out and let her fly on her own.
Maybe a little taizer time would have been in order!
web Jun 19th 2008 2:20PM
A woman can break out of the handcuffs??? Great......
Tom Jun 19th 2008 2:22PM
Yo Wes, I recently flew to Houston from Philly. My lighter and cigarettes passed right through the scanner. By the way, this isn't the first time that has happened.
Tom Jun 19th 2008 2:24PM
Yo Wes, I recently flew to Houston from Philly. My lighter and cigarettes passed right through the scanner. By the way, this isn't the first time that has happened.
tomtomsay Jun 19th 2008 10:30PM
Wow Tom you got allowed items past security. You are good and they suck!
Tom Jun 20th 2008 12:42PM
Yo Baron, You have an odd way of responding to a comment. Just because some people might not be as informed as you, why would you have to call me an idiot. It's easy to call people names on the internet. I would like to have you say that to my face.
Shaun Jun 19th 2008 2:36PM
Corporations can't smoke, or hit other corporations!!! Corporations are fictions which are Not real!!!......... Maybe someone with some brains besides the mind controlled drones will get this....? But, I seriously doubt it!!!
cheen48 Jun 19th 2008 2:48PM
Your headline says "Dallas" - your story says "Denver". Doesn't anyone pay attention to detail???
Eric Jun 19th 2008 4:24PM
Thanks! I thought i was the only one who saw that.
Scooter Jun 19th 2008 7:32PM
no it doesn't, at least on my computer