Flight Diverted, Woman Removed Over Seat Dispute
JACKSONVILLE (CBSMiami/AP) — A combative woman upset over a reclining seat was removed from a flight to Florida, airport officials said Tuesday, but the woman told authorities she was not aggressive — just upset over the recent death of her two dogs.
The Delta flight from New York to West Palm Beach was diverted on Monday night to Jacksonville, where the woman was removed and the city's Airport Authority investigated.
Amy Fine, 32, of Boca Raton was resting her head on her tray table when the passenger ahead of her reclined the seat, according to the agency's report. The table hit Fine's head, she told investigators, and witnesses said the two passengers began arguing.
Three flight attendants said Fine became increasingly agitated as they tried to calm her down, according to the report.
"She was shaking her hands and very combative in her demeanor to the point that they were concerned for the safety of themselves and the passengers," the investigative report stated.
The flight attendants said Fine used obscenities and demanded that the plane land immediately.
"She started swearing at the flight attendants and demanding that the flight land," said a passenger on the flight. "The flight attendants went and spoke with the captain while somebody was blocking her path to the cabin. A few minutes later an announcement came on that we were diverting to Jacksonville."
Once on the ground in Jacksonville, Fine told officers that she had argued with the passenger in front of her over the incident, but she denied being disruptive. She said she was "very emotional" over her dogs' deaths.
Fine wasn't arrested and was allowed to go home in a rental car. The flight continued to West Palm Beach where it landed just after 11 p.m. Monday.
Fine didn't return a message on her cellphone seeking comment Tuesday.
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