A New York woman will spend four months in prison for interfering with crew members aboard an American flight from Dallas to Los Angeles.
The altercation, which took place last year, caused the flight to be diverted to Phoenix, according to federal prosecutors.
Kelly Pichardo and another first-class passenger, Leeza Rodriguez, engaged in intimidating behavior on the flight. They were removed from the plane after it landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Feb. 24, 2021.
Authorities said both women assaulted a passenger during the flight and used racial slurs after a male passenger asked them to stop.
Pichardo is also accused of spitting at the man when he tried to record the incident.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Phoenix police. The two women have since been indicted for disorderly conduct for verbally and physically assaulting other passengers and flight crew members.
Pichardo, a 32-year-old resident of the Bronx, has been ordered to pay nearly $9,200 restitution to the airline as a result of the altercation.
She must also serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
The other female passenger has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in November.
