Amanda Renee Henry, Interfering with Flight Crew, Tennessee 2021

A 43-year-old Lebanon, Tennessee woman has been charged with a federal crime for interfering with a flight crew after an incident on board a Spirit Airlines flight to Nashville on November 27, 2021.

Amanda Renee Henry, 43, was charged with interfering with a flight crew following an incident on board a Spirit Airlines flight flying to Nashville on November 27, 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin for the Middle District of Tennessee.

In accordance with the Attorney General’s directive, the prosecution of those who endanger the safety of airline passengers, flight crews, and flight attendants is a priority of this office.

Henry was a passenger on a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and became disruptive and appeared to be intoxicated. Passengers seated next to Henry requested to be moved to other seats due to Henry’s disruptive behavior.

When flight attendants requested that Henry move, she refused and grabbed her carry-on bag and ran toward the front of the aircraft screaming, “I’m getting off this plane.” Another flight attendant blocked Henry from getting to the main cabin door and began to restrain her, at which time Henry began to kick and hit the flight attendant.

Henry also assaulted the other flight attendant who assisted in trying to restrain her. Once the flight attendants were able to restrain Henry, a passenger who was an off-duty firefighter assisted the crew by sitting with Henry and keeping her calm for the duration of the flight.

When the plane landed at Nashville International Airport, Henry was arrested by the Nashville Airport Department of Public Safety and charged with public intoxication.

Henry faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the federal offense. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Kurtzman.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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