An unruly passenger on a flight from Indianapolis to New York was arrested on Friday.
Shari Ann Chinnis “became disruptive” and forced the plane to return to the gate, according to an affidavit from the Indianapolis Airport Police Department. The Endeavor Air flight, operating as Delta Connection, had already been rescheduled for departure by that time.
Chinnis, who was traveling with her daughter and another woman, became “verbally combative” after being asked to stow her luggage for takeoff, a flight attendant told officials. She was asked to do so “no less than five times,” the affidavit states.
According to the affidavit of the incident, the flight crew demanded that she be disembarked. She initially refused, saying that she would have to be arrested in order to leave the plane. However, after the officers boarded the plane, she and her traveling companions did so.
Pull yourself together: Why angry outbursts on airplanes are the problem of all travelers
While speaking to officers, Chinnis and her daughter became “very loud” and “belligerent.” Police warned them that if they continued in this manner, they would be arrested.
“Officers began escorting the three individuals off the jetway so Delta could reboard and continue normal operations,” the affidavit states. “When they got to the top of the jetway, both Chinnis and (her daughter) began saying they were not going anywhere without their luggage. Officers attempted to escort Chinnis and (her daughter) out of the security side of the airport. Chinnis began making a scene by raising her voice and disturbing the peace of everyone in the gate area.”
She was arrested for disturbing the peace at an airport. An attorney for Chinnis was not listed.
“Endeavor Air flight 4994, operating as Delta Connection from Indianapolis to New York – LaGuardia, was forced to return to the gate due to unsettled passengers on board,” a Delta Air Lines spokesperson told USA TODAY in an email. “Passengers were able to disembark the aircraft and safely continue to their final destination. We apologize to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans.”
The flight arrived in New York about an hour and a half later than planned.
How common are incidents involving undisciplined passengers?
As of April 28, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received 649 reports of undisciplined passengers this year. In 2023, the number was 2,075, down from 2,455 last year and significantly less than the 5,973 in 2021, when the number of incidents skyrocketed.
The incident comes after a Virgin Australia passenger was arrested last month after allegedly running naked through the cabin and knocking over a flight attendant.
Nathan Diller is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Unruly passenger arrested for disturbing the peace at Indianapolis airport
