By Chris Stewart Brian Entin
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (WFLX) – A Delta Airlines flight, from LaGuardia to Palm Beach International Airport, had to be diverted to Jacksonville Monday night due to an unruly passenger who lives in Boca Raton.
According to Delta Airlines, Flight 2370 was diverted “due to safety reasons in regard to a passenger issue”.
A report from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority identified the passenger as Amy Caryn Fine, 32, of Boca Raton.
An onboard witness, Aaron Klipin, was seated next to a woman who attempted to recline her seat. The report said Fine was trying to sleep on a tray table and was struck in the head by the reclined seat. “This woman who was sitting next to me, knitting, actually tried reclining her seat back, and the woman behind her started screaming and swearing and the flight attendant came over, and that just exacerbated what was going on, and then she demanded that the flight land,” he said.
Klipin said when a flight attendant was called, the incident became heated and Fine insisted that the flight be diverted to the next stop.
The flight attendants tried to calm down Fine, but they said she continued to be disruptive and loud.
“She started swearing at the flight attendants and then demanding that the flight land. The flight attendants went and spoke with the captain, while somebody was blocking her path to the cabin. Then, a few minutes later, an announcement came on that we were diverting to Jacksonville,” Klipin said.
Klipin said that Fine stated something to the effect of, “I don’t care about the consequences put this plane down now.”
Fine said in the report that she had two dogs die, and she was very emotional.
The flight attendants were concerned for the safety of themselves and the passengers, forcing the flight to be diverted to Jacksonville International Airport.
According to Klipin, a flight attendant stayed next to Fine until the plane landed in Jacksonville at 9:30 p.m., where she was escorted off the plane by police.
Fine was taken to the rental car center area and released without incident, said the Jacksonville Aviation Authority report.
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