Airline passenger restrained with duct tape

[Carol C]

Be careful not to drink too much at the airport lounge when you travel during the holidays!
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From AP wire service:

FBI: Airline passenger restrained with duct tape
By MARLON A. WALKER, Associated Press Writer Marlon A. Walker, Associated Press Writer Wed Nov 5, 7:32 pm ET

RALEIGH, N.C. – An airline crew used duct tape to keep a passenger in her seat because they say she became unruly, fighting flight attendants and grabbing other passengers, forcing the flight to land in North Carolina.

Maria Esther Castillo of Oswego, N.Y., is due in court Thursday, charged with resisting arrest and interfering with the operations of a flight crew aboard United Airlines Flight 645, from Puerto Rico to Chicago.

Castillo, 45, struck a flight attendant on the buttocks with the back of her hand during Saturday's flight, FBI Special Agent Peter Carricato said in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. She also stood and fell onto the head of a blind passenger and later started pulling the person's hair, the complaint stated.

Ankle cuffs kept slipping off Castillo, so the flight crew and two passengers were forced to use duct tape to keep her in her seat, the complaint states.

She calmed as the pilot diverted the flight to Charlotte-Douglass International Airport, but became disruptive again when authorities boarded the plane to remove her, authorities said.

Carricato states that a passenger saw Castillo having drinks in an airport bar before boarding. She bought another drink on the plane. Flight attendants stopped serving her alcohol because of her behavior, the complaint states.

United spokesman Jeff Kovick said Wednesday that safety is the company's top priority and that it's cooperating with authorities.

FBI spokeswoman Amy Thoreson on Wednesday declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

A message left seeking comment wasn't immediately returned by Castillo's attorney, Julia Mimms.

[nightnurse613]

Ah, good old duct tape. I never leave home without it!

[riverdees05]

One of the great inventions of our time. Love it. Have to add that to the list of things to do with Duct Tape.

[ace2000]

You know, the problem with posting this story is that you've given every timeshare salesman a new idea here...

Someone please delete this thread quickly, like ASAP!

[laura1957]

My husband is always threatening the grandkids with this if they act up too much I will have to print this out for him!!

[laura1957]

My husband is always threatening the grandkids with this I will have to print this out for him!!

[TSTex02]

Did the airline charge an extra service fee for this?

["Roger"]

The duct tape itself was free. The passanger did have to pay an extra $50, however, for the scissors used to cut her free.

[PigsDad]

Originally Posted by TSTex02

Did the airline charge an extra service fee for this?

Personally, I think the passenger should be charged what it cost the airline to make that extra landing and takeoff (think of the fuel bill alone!), AND reimburse each and every passenger on that plane for their time lost due to this idiot.

Being drunk is not an excuse.

Kurt

[x3 skier]

EGAD, I first thought it was one of those who complain extensively about fees, FF miles devaluation, etc. being restrained.

Just a plain old drunk is not so unusual although the solution is pretty unique.

If you want some laughs, there is a thread on Flyer Talk about obnoxious passengers that include some real doozies. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=878900

Cheers

[Mimi39]

It's not only airlines with obnoxious passengers, check out this thread on cruisecritic.com:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=870731

[derb]

Originally Posted by ace2000

You know, the problem with posting this story is that you've given every timeshare salesman a new idea here...

Someone please delete this thread quickly, like ASAP!

OMG your right.