Montco Woman Charged With Disrupting Flight
A USAir flight from Las Vegas to Philadelphia on Wednesday almost had to make an unscheduled landing when a Pottstown woman demanded food shortly after takeoff and began thrashing about the plane.
Melinda K. Gardner, 35, yesterday was charged in federal court in Philadelphia with intimidating and interfering with flight-crew members.
When a federal air marshal tried to calm her, she allegedly began "screaming obscenities" and "racial slurs" at the agent and crew.
Agent Holt Patterson, of the Federal Air Marshal Service, said he handcuffed Gardner, detected "a strong odor of alcohol," and "feared she would" open an emergency exit.
Patterson said Gardner "violently and continually kicked" the seat in front of her, causing damage, after he forced her to sit.
"As a safety precaution, all passengers were removed from the area," he noted in a sworn statement filed in court.
The plane's captain, Nick Vislocky, wanted to land immediately, but Patterson persuaded the pilot to continue on to Philadelphia.
The agent said Gardner "continued her disruptive and violent behavior for the duration of the flight."
Gardner could not be reached for comment last night.
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