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Kelly Pichardo, a 30 year old woman from New York woman has been sentenced to four months in prison for interfering with crew members aboard a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles last year that had to be diverted to Phoenix, according to federal prosecutors.
What happened?
The federal prosecutors revealed that Kelly Pichardo and Leeza Rodriguez, 29, from the Bronx, were sat in first class when they started intimidating other passengers onboard the flight.
Police arrested both women and removed them from the plane after it landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on February 24, 2021.
Authorities said the women each assaulted a passenger during the flight and used racial slurs when a male passenger asked them to stop.
Pichardo also allegedly spit at the man when he tried to record the altercation.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Phoenix police and the two women were indicted for disorderly conduct for verbally and physically assaulting other customers and flight crew members.
Prosecutors said Pichardo, a 32-year-old resident of the Bronx, has been ordered to pay nearly $9,200 restitution to American Airlines as a result of the altercation.
Kelly Pichardo also will serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
The other female passenger involved in the incident has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in November.
A statement American Airlines said: ‘We thank our crew members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation.’
The airline called their alleged behavior ‘disturbing and unacceptable.’
Both women have been banned from future flights with the airline.
