A US citizen who was flying on a recent Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Washington Dulles (IAD) faces the threat of spending up to 20 years in prison after she was arrested and charged with interference with flight crew members and assault.
40-year-old Sophiyaa Sahu has been held in custody since her arrest on February 13, when the FBI was called to investigate reports of a disturbance that occurred during the ultra-long-haul flight from the Middle East.
According to an affidavit filed in district court in Virginia, Sahu launched an expletive-laden rant at other passengers and flight attendants around the mid-way point of the lengthy 15-hour flight as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flew high above the Atlantic Ocean.
At the time, the flight attendants were in the middle of a meal and beverage service, and one of the crew members was attempting to serve passengers sitting around Sahu.
According to a criminal complaint, Sahu raised her voice at the crew member and refused to lower her voice when requested to calm down.
Realizing that Sahu seemed agitated, the flight attendant went to position his meal cart further away from her, but as he turned his back to do so, it’s alleged that Sahu kicked him in the back in the hip area with the large black boots that she was wearing at the time.
The flight attendant continued to try to calm Sahu, but she then stood on her seat and screamed obscenities at the entire cabin.
The chief flight attendant was called to speak with Sahu, but she continued screaming and, at one point, she shoved the crew member three or four times in the shoulder.
The crew had a restraint kit prepared, but Sahu appeared to calm down at this point and remained seated for the remainder of the flight. Passengers who were sitting around Sahu say her volatile behavior lasted for up to 30 minutes,
The pilots requested law enforcement meet the aircraft on arrival, and Sahu was taken into custody shortly after Etihad flight EY-5 had landed at Dulles.
During initial questioning, Sahu denied assaulting either of the flight attendants but did admit to making “a public speech to the cabin” because the first crew member had provoked her with inappropriate comments.
Sahu has been charged with assault, as well as interference with flight crew members under 49 U.S.C. 46504. The maximum possible punishment for offenders found guilty of interference with flight crew members is 20 years imprisonment, plus a fine of up to $250,000.
