Vegas-bound woman on American Airlines flight restrained with duct tape after alleged attack on attendant

A woman travelling to Las Vegas on an American Airlines flight was restrained with duct tape after she allegedly assaulted a flight attendant.

Ketty J. Dilone was arrested Tuesday because of aggressive behaviour during an American Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic to Las Vegas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada said in a press release about the incident.

She was “walking down the aisle and yelling,” the press release states.

Dilone was “continually recording the entire aircraft.” When asked to stop filming, Dilone became enraged and “started to verbally threaten multiple flight attendants,” who notified the captain and co-pilot, the the  probable cause affidavit  states.

She made several statements to the effect of, ‘I will kill you b***h!’” according to the affidavit. “Dilone also made aggressive postures towards the flight attendants when they attempted to calm her down.”

As Dilone continued her “disturbing and threatening” behaviour, the cabin crew “physically restrained (her) in her seat with flex cuffs around her wrists” the affidavit continues.

To prevent Dilone from sliding out of the seat or the flex cuffs, a flight attendant taped Dilone’s torso utilizing duct tape. But Dilone still managed to kick the attendant twice, striking the back of her legs, making her fall.

Flight attendants were then forced to rearrange passengers seated nearby, moving numerous travellers away from Dilone and placing volunteers next to her.

Law enforcement met the flight upon landing. Officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department took Dilone into custody. The FBI, which has jurisdiction over crimes committed aboard U.S. aircraft, booked her on federal charges of interference with a flight crew, and assault by striking, beating, or wounding.

Dilone is now facing charges that include one count of interference with flight crew and one count of assault by striking, beating, or wounding. A preliminary hearing is set to take place on Oct. 1. She could face up to 20 years in prison if she’s found guilty.

So far this year, the FAA has received   1,154 reports of unruly passengers . In 2024, the agency fielded a total of 2,102 unruly passenger reports, a significant decline from a 2021 peak of 5,973.

It’s not the first time American Airlines has had to duct tape an unruly passenger.

In late 2024, a group of passengers sprung into action and stopped a man who allegedly tried to open the cabin door mid-flight during a trip to Dallas by restraining him with duct tape.

The incident took place on American Airlines flight 1915 from Milwaukee when the passenger allegedly approached a flight attendant and asked to open the cabin door while they were in flight and grew more agitated when he was denied.

The suspect tried to rush towards the door, striking the flight attendant who was blocking it.

Passengers rushed to assist the flight attendant and tried to subdue the unruly passenger. A flight attendant handed the passengers duct tape as they restrained him

Eventually, airport police and the FBI detained the man and took him off the flight for a medical evaluation.

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