Florida woman is taken into custody after faking medical issue on an American Airlines flight because she wanted a bigger seat – forcing the plane to make emergency diversion
- The woman, who has not yet been named, falsely claimed to be suffering from an unspecified medical episode during a flight between Pensacola and Miami
- She told flight attendants she was having trouble breathing, forcing the pilot to declare an emergency and turn the plane back to Pensacola
- Flight crews called officers from the Pensacola Police Department to the airport shortly after landing, where the woman admitted she’d faked the episode
- The woman initially refused to get off of the aircraft, prompting a full evacuation of other passengers
- She was eventually convinced to deplane, where police took her into custody under the Baker Act
A Florida woman was taken into custody on Friday morning after she faked a medical issue during a flight, forcing the plane to be diverted, in order to get a bigger seat.
The woman, who has not yet been named by authorities, falsely claimed to be suffering from an unspecified medical episode during an American Airlines flight from Pensacola International Airport to Miami.
She reportedly told flight attendants she was having trouble breathing, forcing the pilot to declare an emergency and turn the plane back to Pensacola.
Flight crews called officers from the Pensacola Police Department to the airport shortly after landing, where the woman is said to have admitted to faking the medical issue as a ruse to get her seat upgraded.
The woman, who has not yet been named by authorities, falsely claimed to be suffering from an unspecified medical episode during an American Airlines flight from Pensacola International Airport to Miami
The woman initially refused to get off of the aircraft, prompting a full evacuation of other passengers.
Eventually, the pilot and police officers were able to convince her to deplane.
Officers then took the woman into custody under the state’s Baker Act, which allows authorities to detain any individual who could pose an immediate threat to themselves or others in a mental health facility for assessment.
Pensacola Police Department public information officer, Mike Wood, explained the woman was taken into custody ‘due to some of the things she said’ during her exchanges with the flight crew and police.
‘Criminal charges have not been filed yet, but there may be some charges in the future,’ Wood added
She told flight attendants she was having trouble breathing, forcing the pilot to declare an emergency and turn the plane back to Pensacola
In a statement issued in the incident’s wake, an American Airlines spokesperson said: ‘Earlier today, American Eagle 3508 returned to Pensacola due to a passenger who requested medical assistance.
‘The flight took off at 5:43 a.m. and landed back at Pensacola at 6:26 a.m. and taxied to the gate. All passenger deplaned normally at the gate through the main boarding door and onto the jet bridge.
‘The passenger was subsequently removed by law enforcement and medical personnel, and the flight took off again at 7:41 a.m.’