Suspect in June air rage incident due in N.Y. court
Rocky Mountain News
Published September 23, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Photo by /The Rocky
Christina Szele allegedly violated release conditions with assault, drugs.
A passenger who allegedly assaulted a flight attendant on a JetBlue plane is expected to appear in federal court today in New York, where she will be advised of a new charge that she violated the conditions of her bail.
Christina Szele, 35, returned to New York on a supervised release after she was indicted in Colorado. However, she eventually tested positive twice for cocaine, according to the U.S. Probation Department. She also was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor assault in Queens, the U.S. attorney's office said. She was taken into custody on Sept. 15.
A hearing for Szele is scheduled in U.S. district court in Denver on Friday, although she is not required to be in Colorado.
The legal troubles for Szele began June 17 when she was on a JetBlue flight from New York to San Francisco and began smoking in her seat, according to the FBI. When a flight attendant asked her to put out the cigarette, Szele became combative and started yelling obscenities, including racial slurs.
When more flight attendants tried to place flex cuffs on Szele she managed to slip through and punch one of the attendants, according to the FBI affidavit. She allegedly assaulted another JetBlue employee who sat next to her.
The flight crew decided to divert the jet to Denver International Airport, where Szele was arrested, according to the affidavit. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in July.
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September 23, 2008
1:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Well look it is that sweet girl from New York in the papers again.
She really needs to go to rehab and then pen a tell all book on her life.
Wonder will she soon be on Dr. Phil and Oprah crying about how badly the world has treated her.
She is just a victim of the system and the man.
September 23, 2008
8:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
MsValeriah writes:
One word: LOSER. Sure hope she doesn't have any kids.
September 23, 2008
12:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Amen to that MsValeriah. Just to be safe, make an appointment for her with a veterinarian. ;-)
Scott