• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Law In Travel • United Airlines  >  Woman Subdued After Threatening To “Stab Everyone” On United 777-200
Law In TravelUnited Airlines

Woman Subdued After Threatening To “Stab Everyone” On United 777-200

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 25, 2020February 25, 2020 21 Comments

“I’m going to stab everyone on the plane. Then kill myself. I’m Palestinian! That’s how we get down!”

Famous last words…

United Passenger Arrested After Threatening To Stab Passengers

Dana Ghazi Mustafa is in lots of trouble. The troubled 27-year-old was on a United flight from Frankfurt to Washington Dulles last Saturday and not having a good day. First, flight attendants busted her for smoking in the lavatory.

Interestingly, the plane did not divert nor was she initially cuffed. Instead, she was returned to her seat where she began crying. Mustafa told flight attendants she had just lost members of her family in North Carolina, who were killed by a drunk driver. Flight attendants took her at her word and began pampering her.

But it turns out the only drunk one was Mustafa herself. Other passengers reported she began punching the monitor in front of her seat and then threw a coin at the bulkhead wall. She later got up and walked around the aircraft while striking the flint of her lighter. Finally, she attempted to return to the lavatory to smoke again.

Two Federal Air Marshal were onboard and were enlisted by flight attendants to subdue the woman. Mustafa battled against the marshals, kicking them and attempting to squirm out of their grasp. After threatening to stab an Air Marshal, she yelled:

“I’m going to stab everyone on the plane. Then kill myself. I’m Palestinian! That’s how we get down!”

The flight did not divert, but Mustafa was finally handcuffed and subdued for the remainder of the flight.

A half-empty, liter-sized bottle of Absolut Vodka was found in her bag and the marshals reported that she smelled of alcohol.

Upon landing, she admitted her story about the death of her family was fabricated.

CONCLUSION

Mustafa faces up to eight years in prison for assaulting a federal officer, but will likely receive a dramatically reduced sentence and may not spend any time behind bars, especially if a court determines she needs psychiatric care.

I’m impressed the aircraft did not divert (though flying over the Atlantic makes that somewhat difficult…).

image: Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

Previous Article Korean Air Flight Attendant Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Next Article Why Don’t Hotels In Finland (Of All Places) Have Saunas?!

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Accident

    Family Sues Southwest Airlines For Negligence After Death Of 25-Year-Old Daughter

    February 1, 2023
  • Bella! Italian Woman Strips, Attacks Crew After Being Denied Free Business Class Upgrade (But She Claims Crew Blocked Her From Using Lavatory)

    January 31, 2023
  • United Airlines Super Bowl LVII Flights

    United Airlines Adds Super Bowl Flights

    January 30, 2023

21 Comments

  1. Andy K Reply
    February 25, 2020 at 11:48 am

    Psychiatric care?? She was drunk and knew exactly what she was doing.

    • Bill Reply
      February 26, 2020 at 10:05 pm

      They know that there just setting an excuse in play. I’m sure they have no plans on doing anything to inconvenience her. They are much more worried about being called racist. Me I would give her the max jail time.

  2. Deltahater Reply
    February 25, 2020 at 11:53 am

    Agree with Andy. Entitled millenial. No excuses. Jail.

    • Aaron Reply
      February 25, 2020 at 11:42 pm

      Entitled millennial? What a silly thing to say. As if we haven’t seen people of all ages getting drunk and doing stupid things on planes (or just in life, generally).

    • Miu Reply
      February 26, 2020 at 2:15 am

      Speaking of needing psychiatric care…

  3. stogieguy7 Reply
    February 25, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    Lock her up!

  4. Jerry Reply
    February 25, 2020 at 1:09 pm

    It probably wasn’t funny at the time, but the mental picture of somebody screaming “I’m going to stab everyone!” just makes me laugh. I picture a disheveled woman in a cartoonish manner swinging a knife and screaming as she’s subdued by fellow pax.

    I hope Ms. Mustafa gets the helps she most likely needs.

    • Shawn Reply
      February 25, 2020 at 3:12 pm

      Actually, the funny part of the rant was the ‘that’s how we get down!’ part. That made me laugh.

      I would have been concerned and sad if this had happened on one of my flights. I would have been pi$$ed if it had led to a diversion, too.

      And, Matthew, I’d prefer to think of it as a half-full bottle of Absolut. 😉

      • Matthew Reply
        February 26, 2020 at 7:50 am

        Always the optimist! 😉

      • Jay Reply
        February 26, 2020 at 4:31 pm

        “Psychiatric care?? She was drunk and knew exactly what she was doing.”

        Right, cuz you investigated her background and know her mental health history. Of course, talk about entitled and arrogant…. Self reflect a bit on your own arrogance and assumptions.

  5. Christian Reply
    February 25, 2020 at 1:36 pm

    Somebody sure could’ve used a Xanax. Without the vodka, of course.

  6. YoniPDX Reply
    February 25, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    Oddly, it seems like its been quite sometime since I heard about an Air Marshal -it seems like we have had so many recent air events without the intervention of an Air Marshall that I was wondering if they were still regularly flying.

    It also may be the reason the flight was not diverted because of the air marshall(s). I keep forgetting to ask FA’s on recent flights (and not sure how accurate an answer I might have received).

    Perhaps they fly more targeted international flights over domestic.

    • Matthew Reply
      February 26, 2020 at 7:49 am

      Yes, that is a fair point and may well be the reason diversion was avoided.

    • Nk Reply
      February 26, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      They are usually much more common on flights into/out of DC and this plane was going to Dulles International.

  7. Paolo Reply
    February 26, 2020 at 7:15 am

    She made a big mistake but is it such a huge deal? Clearly, she’s troubled and needs support. I’d err on the charitable side and get her into care/counselling. Prison would be inappropriate.

    • Matthew Reply
      February 26, 2020 at 7:49 am

      I tend to agree. Actions should have consequences, but what good is throwing someone who may have substance abuse problems in jail? How does that make her a productive and flourishing citizen once again?

      • Nk Reply
        February 26, 2020 at 8:08 pm

        They are usually much more common on flights into/out of DC and this plane was going to Dulles International.

    • Came in Peace Reply
      February 27, 2020 at 7:16 am

      She could get counseling in prison

    • Came in Peace Reply
      February 27, 2020 at 7:16 am

      prison will also have the counseling you feel she needs

  8. Lynda Reply
    February 26, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    Perhaps a little off point but…did I read correct that she had a liter bottle in her bag? How did that get through security? And perhaps even more off point, had it been discovered and she had been found already inebriated to a degree, what is the protocol to handle such a scenario?

    • Matthew Reply
      February 26, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      She probably purchased duty free. Policy is to confiscate if taken out of sealed case (self-consumption not permitted onboard)

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Accident
    Family Sues Southwest Airlines For Negligence After Death Of 25-Year-Old Daughter February 1, 2023
  • Hotel Hairdresser Massage
    Hotel Hairdresser Invites Himself To My Room February 1, 2023
  • Mount Nebo Jordan
    Visiting Mount Nebo In Jordan February 1, 2023
  • A Silly Attack On United Airlines’ Boarding Process January 31, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Casting Couch? Kuwait Airways Forces Prospective Flight Attendants To Undress For “Research Purposes” January 4, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus January 5, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.