A woman was forcibly removed from a US Airways flight on Sunday after she refused to comply with flight crew instructions to turn off cellphones before takeoff, according to ABC News. The incident was captured by another passenger and posted to YouTube.
US Airways flight 906 departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lindsay Bien-aime refused to comply with flight attendant instructions prior to takeoff and "became unruly," according to a report filed with the Broward County Sheriff's Office that was obtained by ABC. The pilot then ordered the woman off the plane. Broward County officers boarded the plane, and despite their presence, Bien-aime "continued to refuse to exit the plane" and "became irate," screaming and yelling profanities.
"I will hold up this whole [expletive] plane," Bien-aime shouted. "I don't care where people gotta go."
The woman can be heard refusing to get off the plane until a flight attendant comes to her seat and explains what she did wrong. A different voice can be heard saying she has "been on her phone the whole time."
When she still refused to get off the plane, the officers attempted to handcuff her, resulting in a physical scuffle. Two people came to the aid of the officers. Bien-aime "scratched, kicked and violently resisted" attempts to remove her from the plane, according to the police report.
She was charged on three counts, including battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest with violence.
Attempts to reach Bien-aime or a representative were unsuccessful. US Airways also didn't respond for comment.
The incident follows a similar incident where a group of 100 students were kicked off an AirTran flight when some of them wouldn't put away their mobile devices in compliance with the flight attendants requests.
Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considered loosening the ban on some electronic devices, though cell phones are unlikely to be included.
Video of the incident captured by another passenger.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
