A United Airlines flight from Milan to Newark never made it to New Jersey last Tuesday. According to court documents, a passenger identified as Kristina Kedysheva became aggressive when the crew refused to serve her more alcohol, then allegedly bit a flight attendant and kicked her in the stomach while being restrained. The kick caused a shoulder injury that required medical attention.
The flight diverted to Bangor, Maine, where Kedysheva was removed from the plane. It took five crew members and passengers to subdue her, and she was arrested by the FBI, U.S. Air Marshals and local police before appearing in federal court on Wednesday. Homeland Security has also lodged an ICE detainer, noting that Kedysheva is a Russian citizen.
For those of us who regularly fly out of Tampa International or Sarasota-Bradenton, this story is a reminder of what flight crews handle behind the curtain. Interfering with a crew member is a federal offense for good reason, and airlines and the FAA have been tracking unruly passenger cases closely for years. What do you think airlines should do about alcohol service on long flights? Sound off in the comments.
