A New York woman was sentenced to four months in prison for interfering with crew members on a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles last year that had to be diverted to Phoenix, according to federal prosecutors. They said Kelly Pichardo and another first class passenger exhibited intimidating behavior on the flight and the two women had to be removed from the plane after it landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on February 24, 2021. Authorities said the women assaulted a passenger during the flight and used racial slurs when a male passenger asked them to stop. Pichardo also allegedly spat at the man when he tried to record the fight. The case was investigated by the FBI and Phoenix police, and the two women were charged with disorderly conduct for verbally and physically assaulting other customers and flight crew members. Prosecutors said Picardo, a 32-year-old Bronx resident, has been ordered to pay nearly $9,200 in restitution to American Airlines as a result of the altercation. They say Pichardo will also serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence. The other female passenger involved in the incident pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in November.
