Delta Connection passenger arrested for allegedly disturbing peace in airport
An unruly passenger on a flight from Indianapolis to New York was arrested Friday.
Shari Ann Chinnis “became disruptive,” forcing the plane to return to the gate, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Indianapolis Airport Police Department. The Endeavor Air flight operating as Delta Connection had already pushed back for departure at the time.
Chinnis, who was traveling with her daughter and another woman, became “verbally argumentative” after being asked to stow her bags for takeoff, a flight attendant told law enforcement. She was asked to do so “no less than 5 times,” the affidavit said.
Flight crew requested she be removed, according to the affidavit of the incident. She initially refused, saying she would have to be arrested to deplane, but she and her travel companions did so after officers boarded the aircraft.
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While speaking with officers, Chinnis and her daughter “became very loud” and were "argumentative." Law enforcement warned them they would be arrested if they continued.
“Officers began escorting the three individuals off the jet bridge so Delta could reboard and continue normal operations,” the affidavit said. “When arriving at the top of the jet bridge both Chinnis and (her daughter) began saying they were not going anywhere without their bags. Officers attempted to get Chinnis and (her daughter) off the secure side of the airport. Chinnis began causing a scene by raising her voice disturbing the peace of everyone in the gate area.”
She was arrested for disorderly conduct in an airport. An attorney for Chinnis was not listed.
“Endeavor Air flight 4994 operating as Delta Connection from Indianapolis to New York – LaGuardia returned to the gate due to unruly passengers onboard,” a Delta Air Lines spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “The passengers were deplaned and the aircraft carried on safely to their final destination. We apologize to our customers for the disruption in their travel plans.”
The flight arrived in New York around an hour and a half later than planned.
How common are unruly passenger incidents?
The Federal Aviation Administration has received 649 reports of unruly passengers this year as of April 28. There were 2,075 in 2023, down from 2,455 the previous year and much lower than the 5,973 in 2021, which saw a spike in incidents.
The incident comes after a Virgin Australia passenger was arrested last month after allegedly running naked through the cabin and knocking a flight attendant over.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Unruly passenger arrested for disturbing peace at Indianapolis airport
