A frenzied nurse who bit and kicked flight attendants in a wild bid to reach the cockpit during landing, until duct taped to her seat, is to be deported for her actions.
A US federal judge has ordered Charlene Sarieann Harriott, 36, deported back to Jamaica for her bizarre behaviour on American Airlines flight 1033 from Dallas, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina in January.
The court heard the behaviour was totally out of character and “unfathomable”.
Friends and family describe her as a gifted nurse, an accomplished singer and an active member of her Seventh Day Adventist church. Her mother wrote from Jamaica to the court: “I miss her very much. Please send her home,” the Charlotte Observer reported.
The plane was just minutes from touching down when Harriott inexplicably sprang from her seat and charged towards the cockpit, forcing busy flight attendants to restrain her with plastic handcuffs and duct tape. She bit cabin crew who tried to stop her.
Crew gave chase and a battle took place at the front of the plane in the first class section. There are 16 first class seats on the aircraft (American uses a B737-800 on the route). The criminal complaint said Harriott “became more aggressive and physically violent”, biting a crewmember’s arm, hitting a second one and kicking another in the leg and stomach.
Harriott’s defence attorney said in court that Harriott had some sort of emotional breakdown that led to the wild outburst, WSOCTV.com in Charlotte, North Carolina, reported.
The judge called the occurrence a violent event which likely frightened passengers and the American Airlines crew.
The judge ruled that Harriott, who pleaded guilty, be turned over to US immigration authorities and deported back to Jamaica to be with friends and family.
Charlene Sarieann Harriott. Photo by Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office
According to WSOCTV.com, if Harriott ever returns to the US she would be under supervised probation for one year. That’s if she is allowed in.
The judge will within 90 days make a ruling on two victims who have lodged claims for restitution.
Written by Peter Needham
.jpg){kind=tracking}