A pair of women who assaulted both passengers and crewmembers onboard an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Los Angeles in first class now face prison time for their poor choice of behavior.
Women Face Sentencing For Unruly Behavior In American Airlines First Class Cabin
First, a bit of background about the case:
- The incident occurred on February 24, 2021, onboard an American Airlines flight from Dallas (DFW) to Los Angeles (DFW)
- Kelly Pichardo, 30, and Leeza Rodriguez, 29 were seated in first class
- Each woman allegedly assaulted another passenger during the flight
- When another passenger told them to stop, they used racial slurs against him
- Pichardo then spit on the man
- He then pulled out his phone to record the incident and Rodriguez slapped it out of his hand.
- A flight attendant stepped in but was also assaulted
- Due their unruly behavior, the captain made the decision to divert to Phoenix (PHX)
- The women were arrested in PHX, then the flight continued to LAX
Both women have now pleaded guilty to interference with flight crew members. Pichardo was sentenced to four months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. She has also been ordered to pay American Airlines $9,123.00 in restitution. Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced pursuant to her guilty plea in this case on November 7, 2022.
United States Attorney Gary Restaino noted:
“There is a line between boorish behavior on an airplane and criminal activity, and the defendant clearly crossed it. First class passengers are not immune from prosecution: defendant’s verbal and physical intimidation disrupted the travel of passengers and crew alike.”
It was a bad situation and Pichardo should be thankful she will only have to spend four months in prison and pay out less than $10,000.
CONCLUSION
I am glad to see that some of these lingering cases from the pandemic era are being pursued. Even as we’ve seen a dramatic reduction in the number of onboard incidents, this is an important reminder that actions still have consequences.
Angertainment punished. Although the punishment was a bit lacking. Perhaps the other darling will get a sentence more in line with the offense.
These are terrible people who should be liable for damages and should be restricted from flying, but I’m wondering how it will serve society to lock them in a federal prison for 3 years! Excessive sentences like this serve little purpose save for employing federal prison guards, but won’t make any of us any safer while maximizing cruelty and assuring that the lives of these two will be ruined – which I understand is the point for most Americans.
I read this too quickly. 4 months with 36 months supervised release – not 36 months of prison – which sounds more like it. My bad.
They really just need a map, florida is the other direction
Well, if you were looking for a place crazier than Florida, California is a good place to look
If they wanted to burn 9k, then they should’ve bought business class tickets to Europe or something. It would’ve been a better trip than heading to prison for four months
Yep, they could of sat next to the Mayor of New Orleans on her trips to Europe.
Yep, they could HAVE. They could HAVE been seated next to anyone.
This is the new norm for 1st class.
Even those of us in Steerage behave better than these two.
No excuse for anything other than impeccable behaviour in any class of air travel, but this pair were assigned First???
Far too much bad behaviour and lack of respect for crew and fellow pax on flights (even with the claims that such behaviour is in decline)
The less than $10k restitution won’t scratch the surface of the airline’s diversion costs and subsequent loss of revenue.
Prison time and fines in no way reflect their behaviour.
The attorney refers to them as first class passengers. A better description of them would be that they were passengers in first class.
“Damsels”? Good lord…
Both are of that punk ass, wannabe gangsta bitch packing gen. How they got coins for 1st class is questionable especially with attitude they displayed. Their age hides their mentality but i bet their language and clothes says i’m bitchin.
And what of the passenger that was assaulted by both? What action is he taking?
People were sent to Gitmo for less. Why the powder puff sentence for verbal & bioterrorist assault? Oh, yea, I know why. (Wink)
That’s what happens when people buy cheap tickets and upgrade to first class. These two probably always fly Spirit!!