Woman Bites United Flight Attendant After Alcohol Cutoff—Passengers Owed $190,000

A United Airlines passenger allegedly bit and kicked a flight attendant after being refused more alcohol, forcing her Milan – Newark flight to divert to Bangor, Maine. Passengers say she also reached for a rear aircraft door handle before crew members and customers restrained her. The woman told investigators she was traveling to New York for a friend’s 40th birthday. She offered the FBI her own phone videos, convinced they would show she hadn’t done anything wrong. The incident occurred September 8 aboard United flight 18 from Milan Malpensa. The United flight continued to Newark after she was removed in Bangor. The 15-page FBI affidavit describes repeated visits to the back galley, demands for more alcohol, and the crew’s attempts to get her back into her seat. She allegedly called the flight attendants racist and filmed them as they refused further drinks. She was told to sit down, and warned that the aircraft would land if she continued refusing. Eventually three to five people were needed to get her onto the floor and apply restraints. She allegedly bit the purser on the wrist, then kicked the same flight attendant in the upper stomach. The purser fell into another passenger and injured a shoulder. The purser reportedly had difficulty breathing after the kick and required medical assistance. The woman was seated next to an off-duty pilot and scratched him, breaking his skin and requiring medical treatment. Crew members replaced restraints after she complained they were too tight. But it was all a trick – she tried to escape the looser restraints. She was restrained for about 3 hours. She Thought Her Phone Videos Would Clear Her She says she drank three glasses of red wine followed by a whiskey and cola. She blamed the flight attendants for being rude, denied biting anyone, and denied reaching for a door. She said she didn’t remember scratching or fighting anyone, although she… acknowledged it was possible. ‘I was too drunk to remember’ is not a defense. And when your own videos show repeated requests for alcohol, an offer to pay for another drink, and disregarding instructions to return to your seat suggesting they’re exonerating is not credible. Since the flight departed Europe, EU261 compensation applies. An unruly passenger diversion can qualify as an extraordinary circumstance excusing delay payments, but when the airline contributed to the behavior (in this case by overserving the passenger) that defense fails. There were 274 passengers onboard, creating $190,000 in cash exposure if all onboard except the the woman arrested were to claim what they’re entitled to. Topics on this page