A 37-year-old Russian woman is facing up to 20 years in a United States prison after allegedly attacking flight crew members and disrupting a transatlantic flight, according to a district court in the state of Maine cited by Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Kristina Kedysheva was charged with two offenses: interfering with the duties of a flight crew member or flight attendant, and assault. The first charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while the second carries up to one year. Both charges also carry additional financial penalties, with fines of up to 250,000 dollars and 100,000 dollars respectively. Kedysheva is being held in custody with no possibility of bail.
Court documents state that the incident took place on a flight on September 8, traveling from Milan to Newark. During the flight, Kedysheva interfered with crew members and attacked them, causing injuries. The pilots were forced to divert the plane and land at Bangor International Airport in Maine.
What she told investigators
Kedysheva told agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who carried out the inquiry, that she had been flying to Newark to attend a friend's birthday. According to the investigation, she demanded alcohol on board and later tried to open the aircraft door. Witnesses said five crew members and fellow passengers had to restrain her. During the struggle, she reportedly bit a flight attendant and scratched a passenger.
Russian consulate seeks details
The Russian Consulate General in New York told the agency that Russian diplomats had requested confirmation of the information regarding Kedysheva's detention over the alleged in-flight disturbance.
Background
Bangor International Airport, located in Bangor, Maine, is a regional airport that has previously served as a diversion point for transatlantic flights due to its position near the northeastern edge of the United States.
This is not the first time a Russian passenger has caused a disturbance on a flight. A Russian woman previously started a fight on board a plane over a passenger reclining her seat back, and was fined five thousand rubles for starting the altercation.
