Woman Detained By Fellow Passenger And Zip Tied During Flight, Yells At Police To Shoot Her

A passenger on board a Spirit Airlines flight departing South Florida on Saturday evening seemed to have more than one too many to drink prior to departure, according to others on the aircraft. She attacked two members of the cabin crew and then when she was arrested on arrival in Nashville yelled at police officers to shoot her.

Her arrest, though, was merely for public intoxication rather than assault, though “crew told officers that she attacked two flight attendants, punching one and pulling the other’s hair.” The flight attendants opted not to press charges for the assault.

The 42 year old passenger was being restrained by another passenger holding “her feet with zip ties” when she was turned over to authorities, according to the affidavit used in her arrest, and she “smelled of alcohol, spoke in a slurred manner, and her eyes were bloodshot.” She also told the arrested officers that “she drank ‘a lot’.” When met by police the woman reportedly declared “shoot me, mother $%@%#$.”

After police arrested her, she yelled at the officers on several occasions, using expletives and saying “I didn’t do anything wrong” and “shoot me,” according to the affidavit. The passenger also resisted getting into the police cruiser, including by stiffening her legs to prevent officers from closing the door.

The woman was taken to Davidson County jail and locked up at 8:40 p.m. Saturday evening, just over 90 minutes after arrival, and was released at 6 a.m. on Sunday.

According to a Spirit Airlines representative,

Thank you to our guests who assisted our crew and local law enforcement for their assistance. We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure this individual is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Ultimately Spirit Airlines departing South Florida on a Saturday evening stands a reasonable chance of not ending well.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Why didn’t the flight attendants press charges? I know they will likely have to fly in and testify, but now this crazy lady is only going to be charged with disorderly conduct.

  2. By the crew members NOT pressing assault charges that signals the continuation of such physical abuse on flights in the future. Bust them, let them seriously consider their actions with a jail sentence and a hefty fine for assault.

  3. @Gary – She wasn’t just released from jail on Sunday. The charges were dropped(!).

    “Records show she was released from jail Sunday and her case was dismissed.”

    WTF?!

  4. funny how these stories always begin with a spirit airlines flight out of florida.
    and if she was released without charges then that is really wrong. no wonder people behave like this. they have absolutely no reason to fear the consequences of their actions. disgusting.

  5. …. or on American from Miami.
    Good thing that Spirit is adding service from Miami so deviant passengers can choose either airline from either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.

  6. @George “Why didn’t the flight attendants press charges? I know they will likely have to fly in and testify, but now this crazy lady is only going to be charged with disorderly conduct.”

    Flight attendants earn bonus pay when they fly in to testify in court. This is similar to road patrol and law enforcement officers who issue speeding tickets and earn overtime pay when they go to court. This bonus income creates job security and may help the economy. Rowdy passengers on flights who assault flight attendants and passengers are productive of litigation. Accordingly, attorneys and flight attendants should expect a banner year generated by additional income from pissed-off passengers.

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