American Airlines says two women were arrested on Thursday after verbally and physically assaulting other passengers and crew members on a flight diverted to Phoenix.
The airline said the flight was traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Los Angeles when it was diverted around 5:15 PM due to an argument with customers during the flight.
Once the flight arrived in Phoenix, local law enforcement officers removed two female passengers, later identified as 30-year-old, Kelly Pichardo and 29-year-old Leeza Rodriguez, for allegedly verbally and physically assaulting other customers and crew members.
Phoenix police officers say the two women used racist remarks when a male passenger asked them to stop using bad language.
Pichardo reportedly spat at the man who then started recording the two women. Officers say Rodriguez hit the man’s hand at the time to avoid taking them.
American Airlines officials said, “Their behavior was troubling and unacceptable, and they have been placed on our internal denial list pending further investigation.”
Rodriguez was booked for disorderly conduct and Pichardo was booked for assault and disorderly conduct
The flight continued to LAX in Los Angeles and arrived without further incident.