Jobless New Yorker, 28, is charged with punching flight attendant and trying to rip off her dress 'after lashing out at staff for refusing to pick up her garbage' on Miami-to-JFK flight
A jobless New Yorker tried to rip a flight attendant's dress off after flying into a rage about her garbage not being picked up, police say.
Chenasia Campbell, 28, reportedly lashed out on an American Airlines Miami to JFK flight on Saturday evening after upbraiding a crew member for failing to pick up her garbage.
She was arraigned for an assault charge at Brooklyn Federal Court on Monday, and disguised herself with a surgical mask and sweater.
A criminal complaint states that Campbell was traveling from Miami to New York on Sunday evening when the incident occurred.
It said that midway through the three-hour flight she got up from her seat, followed a flight attendant to a crew area on the aircraft and began arguing.
Chenasia Campbell, pictured in court in Brooklyn on Monday, is said to have attacked a flight attendant during a row over her garbage not being picked up
Campbell allegedly followed an American Airlines flight attendant to a crew station and began arguing with her colleague, with the scuffle allegedly turning physical shortly afterwards
Campbell, who faces 20 years in jail on a charge of interference with a flight crew, previously held a government job working with people with disabilities
The defendant, pictured outside Brooklyn's federal court on Monday, was unemployed at the time of the alleged plane attack
Campbell covered her face to try and shield her identity from photographers, and was freed on $15,000 bail
A second flight attendant stepped in and tried to separate the two women, at which point Campbell, who previously worked for the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, accused that second AA crew member of pushing her.
'[Campbell] then struck the victim with closed fists and pulled the victim's hair,' the document states.
'At some point during the altercation, the defendant attempted to pull up or remove the victim's dress,' the complaint alleges.
The passenger and the flight attendant she is accused of attacking were then separated, and Campbell made her way toward the bathroom, where she began arguing with another passenger, it is alleged.
Campbell then approached her alleged victim in the crew area again and began swearing at her and bragging that 'cops aren't going to do anything to me,' according to a criminal complaint.
Next, Campbell punched the American Airlines employee, causing both of them to fall to the floor, police say.
The injured flight attendant asked the captain to land the plane, but her request was denied.
The brawl only came to an end when she was restrained and cuffed by an off-duty NYPD officer who was also on board the jet.
Campbell was handed over to the authorities after the flight landed at John F Kennedy International Airport in Queens on Sunday.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by DailyMail.com, Campbell was charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, an offense is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Campbell, 28, was arrested after landing at John F Kennedy International Airport, pictured, in New York City on Sunday night
Chenasia Campbell, 28, has been charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants for allegedly punching a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight
An off-duty officer with the NYPD who was on board the flight intervened and placed Campbell in hand restraints for the remainder of the flight.
When the plane landed at JFK, Campbell was taken into custody.
The flight attendant suffered scrapes to her arm and cheek, bruises to the forehead and leg, swollen hands and a strained neck, but refused medical assistance.
Campbell appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Monday and was ordered released on $15,000 bond.
A public defender representing Campbell told the court that his client is currently in a mental health treatment program, reported NBC New York.
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