American Airlines passenger duct-taped to seat after mid-air outburst, feds say
Federal prosecutors say Ketty J. Dilone threatened crew and admitted to poisoning her father in the past; she faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on two federal counts.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight was restrained with zip ties and duct tape after a chaotic mid-air disturbance on Sept. 16, federal prosecutors said. Ketty J. Dilone, who was on a Las Vegas–bound service that originated with a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina, allegedly attacked a flight attendant and yelled at crew members as the aircraft traveled from Charlotte to Las Vegas.
Authorities said the Las Vegas-bound flight was forced to divert to enforce restraints on Dilone after she walked the cabin, screamed at staff and verbally threatened multiple flight attendants. A viral video circulating on social media captured the profanity-laden tirade, including Dilone insisting that the restraints were hurting her. In the footage, she also made a now-notorious confession: she had once attempted to poison her father with roach poison when she was 11, and she claimed the substance was meant to kill him. "Tres Pasitos"—a term she used—refers to a potent pesticide used to kill cockroaches and mice that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says is illegal in the United States.
The FBI arrested Dilone after the plane touched down at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, and she was transported to the Henderson Detention Center. She was charged with one count of interference with a flight crew and one count of assault by striking, beating, or wounding. Dilone appeared in Las Vegas on Sept. 18 for an initial hearing, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1. If convicted on the two counts, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The incident underscores continuing concerns about in-flight safety and the rapid responsiveness required to restrain disruptive passengers before or after landing. Federal prosecutors in the District of Nevada described the events as they unfolded aboard the domestic flight that began in Charlotte and ended in Nevada, with local and federal authorities coordinating to secure the scene and ensure the safety of remaining passengers and crew. The case remains pending as proceedings continue in the U.S. district court in Las Vegas.
