American Airlines says two women were arrested Thursday after verbally and physically assaulting other passengers and crew on a flight that was diverted to Phoenix.
The airline said the flight was traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Los Angeles when it was diverted due to a customer altercation during the flight around 5:15 p.m.
Once the flight arrived in Phoenix, local police officers removed and arrested two female passengers, who were later identified as Kelly Pichardo, 30, and Leeza Rodriguez, 29, for allegedly verbally and physically assaulted other customers and crew members.
Phoenix police officers say the two women were using racial insults when a male passenger asked them to stop using bad language.
Pichardo allegedly spat at the man who then began recording the two women. Officers say it was when Rodriguez hit the man’s hand to prevent him from recording them.
American Airlines officials said “their behavior was disturbing and unacceptable and they have been included in our internal list of rejections pending further investigation.”
Rodriguez received a card for disorderly conduct and Pichardo for assault and disorderly conduct
The flight continued to LAX from Los Angeles and arrived without further incident.