Flight diverted to Indy after woman hits flight crew, passenger
11 a.m. TUESDAY UPDATE: Police have identified the woman arrested Monday night after a violent outburst aboard an American Airlines flight led to the plane being diverted to Indianapolis.
Daniela Velez-Reyes, 25, Chicago, remains in custody at the Marion County Jail. A report from the Indianapolis Airport Police says Velez-Reyes was arrested on suspicion of battery, disorderly conduct, criminal recklessness and resisting law enforcement.
The two victims in the incident were listed as a 36-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man. The woman suffered a minor injury, and the man suffered no injuries.
The case remains under investigation.
Earlier story: A woman was in Marion County lockup Monday night facing several preliminary charges after she became unruly on a Chicago-bound flight, causing the plane to divert to Indianapolis.
Airport officials said the woman became "unruly" on American Airlines flight 1284 from Miami to Chicago, prompting the pilot of the plane to divert the aircraft to Indianapolis after the woman struck a flight attendant and a passenger.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m., while the plane was airborne over Sullivan County, according to an online flight log.
Jeff Dutton, manager of communications at the Indianapolis International Airport, said the woman had to be detained during the flight. She was taken to the back of the aircraft where she proceeded to strike a flight attendant and a passenger.
Dutton said the pilot then made the decision to divert the plane to Indianapolis.
The plane landed at the Indianapolis airport just before 6 p.m. and was boarded by airport police, said Dutton. After police escorted the woman off the plane, Dutton said she kicked one of the airport police officers.
Marion County Sheriff officials responded to the airport and transported the woman to adult processing center Downtown, said Dutton. She faces preliminary charges of battery resulting in bodily injury (for the alleged assault of the American Airlines flight attendant), two counts of battery, criminal recklessness, disorderly conduct and disruption of a flight.
Police have not identified the woman.
The plane continued on its original flight path after departing Indianapolis around 7:06 p.m.