IL Woman Kicks, Strikes Attendants On Flight To Dulles: FBI

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A 40-year-old Illinois woman accused of disrupting a 15-hour, nonstop flight from Abu Dhabi to Northern Virginia on Feb. 13 has a preliminary hearing in federal court on Friday to face charges of assault and interference with flight crew members, according to court records.

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police contacted the FBI about a disturbance that occurred during a Ethad Airways flight to Washington Dulles International Airport on Feb. 13.

About seven hours into the flight, a passenger, identified as Sophiyaa Sahu, raised her voice at a flight attendant who was conducting meal and beverage service, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia, as part of a request for an arrest warrant.

"Victim 1 [the flight attendant] asked Sahu to calm down," according to the affidavit. "However, she stood up in the aisle and continued speaking at a high volume, which garnered the attention of numerous other passengers. Victim-1 attempted to move the meal and beverage cart further down the aisle away from Sahu, knowing that she was agitated. When he turned his back to move the cart, Sahu kicked him in his hip area above the left buttocks and near his lower back. Sahu was wearing black boots with a heel."

Although the flight attendant attempted to de-escalate the situation, Sahu continued to raise her voice and began calling the victim names and cursing at him, according to court records. She then stood on her seat and began shouting obscenities at the flight attendant.

Sahu sat back down and second attendant, who was the flight manager, tried to calm her down, according to the affidavit. However, Sahu stood up again and began yelling at the flight manager.

"During the interaction, Sahu pushed Victim-2's [flight manager] shoulder three to four times and, when Victim-2 lifted her hands to prevent another push, Sahu slapped Victim-2’s hand," according to the affidavit. "Victim-2 walked away, and ensured that the flight crew had a restraint kit prepared. After Victim-2 walked away, Sahu sat back down and remained seated throughout the rest of the flight. The crew did not have to use the restraints."

Witnesses told the FBI that Sahu called the flight attendants “whores” and “mother f---ers," according to the affidavit. One passenger said that Sahu yelled for approximately 20-30 minutes. Victim-1 reported feeling pain and discomfort in his left buttocks and hip area upon arrival.

Once the flight had landed in Virginia, Sahu, who had both a U.S. passport and an Illinois identification card, agreed to speak to the FBI, according to the affidavit.

Although Sahu denied kicking the flight attendant or pushing or slapping the flight manager, she did admit to standing on her seat and making a public speech to the rest of the passengers, according to the affidavit. She claimed that she had been provoked by the flight attendant, who she said made inappropriate comments and gestures at her.

On Tuesday, Sahu made her initial appearance with counsel before Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, according to court documents. She was charged with assault by beating, striking, and wounding and interference with flight crew members. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday.

The judge granted the U.S. Attorney's request for temporary detention and denied the defense's request for bail, court records say. Sahu was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

If convicted on the assault charge, Sahu faces a possible sentence of up to six months in prison and/or a fine up to $5,000, under the U.S. Code. The interference with fight crew members is the more serious charge. If found guilty, she could be sentenced to up to 20 years in a federal prison and/or a fine.