Smoking, Punching, Cursing Queens Woman Forces Jet Blue Flight Detour

Get this woman a reality TV show! Christina Szele of Woodside, Queens created such a disturbance during a Jet Blue flight from JFK airport to San Francisco that pilots diverted the plane and landed in Denver, where federal authorities took her into custody. According to an affidavit obtained by the Smoking Gun, things started to go sideways after a flight attendant noticed Szele waiting on line for the bathroom with a book of matches and a cigarette, which were promptly seized.

Since smoking in the bathroom was nixed by the uptight flight attendant, the 35-year-old Szele – who sounds like a perfect match for Sean Penn – simply returned to her seat and “nonchalantly” lit up there. When a second flight attendant, one Paul Whyte, snatched the cigarette from her lips, she flew into a rage, firing off the N word and threatening to kill Whyte, who is black. The attendants subsequently moved her to the front of the plane and flex-cuffed her.

But no plastic handcuffs are strong enough to restrain Christina from Queens – she wriggled free and punched Whyte in the jaw! Attendants successfully restrained her with a second set of flex cuffs, and the flight was then detoured. In her statement to authorities, Szele blames the flight crew for serving her three vodka tonics, and insists she has no recollection of smoking or punching anyone. (The affidavit cites other passengers who confirm the flight crew's accounts.) She faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted on charges of interfering with a flight crew and assault.

Mug shot of Szele following a disorderly conduct bust in California last year via The Smoking Gun.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on June 20, 2008 10:08 AM

Comments [rss]

charlesbklyn

Alcohol certainly brings out the worst in some of us. I can't help but think that underneath this racist, drunk, nicotine addicted woman is something better. I certainly hope for her sake.

As for landing at an alternative airport, well ... you never know the strength of a nicotine drunk racist. I don't know about the racism, but nicotine-fits make me want to run marathons ... She probably won't get 20 years, but she is in a lot of trouble.

robingee

She's a real special lady.

kidicarus

Fucking idiot

Ruinign it for the rest of us that like to drink on a flight

Its not the alcohol its your IQ that makes you a moron

And its your lawyer that fucks it up for the rest of us

Not James Frey

Jen - still, the question hasn't been answered. Why is the flight attendant labeled as "uptight" when all she is doing is her job, that job being to enforce federal laws?

glennQNYC

This story is way-funnier now that I know that crazy woman is from Woodside!

sonyactivision

They should have diverted to Phoenix. Those airport cops have that "special touch" with wackjobs like her.

And I mourn the days of smoking on a flight. I used to put my one-hitter pot pipe side by side with a cigarette and smoke them both. Nobody noticed or cared as I climbed a little higher than "35,000 ft.".

Anna_Merkin

I can't lie, my first thought after reading that and seeing the picture: I bet she's AMAZING in bed. She sleeps only with non-black people, of course.

This is nuts. She'll probably get far less after admitting to a substance/alcohol abuse problem and agreeing to go to rehab and do some community service.

just saying

Nothing screams "drunk" more than that photo of Szele.

A few smoke-free years in prison should help cure her tobacco and alcohol addictions.

Jen S

16 & 38: These schmucks use JetBlue because it's the cheapest airline. That's why I use it!

Think2wice

Throw the book at her!

JenChungsBaby

Wait a second......Paul Whyte is black?!?!?! I'll be damned!

RevWaldo

At least the cops cared enough to check her for skin damage...

Amanda Harletsch

Trash on air!!! NIICE act you slze -Szele_ idiot!

wiseguynyc

As a previous commenter noted, what is it about JetBlue that attracts this sort of thing? I fly Northwest, Continental, United, BA, etc. and I've never seen anything close to this. No wonder that so many flight attendants these days seem so stressed out.

Fritzdecat

when are they going to finally learn to have those animal tranq guns for the flight crew...

?

Shoot her once in the ass and then duct ape her into a mummy. End of Story.

JRod5417

I used to be defense counsel for American Airlines and they most definitely have no-fly lists. They are quite extensive and (sometimes) arbitrary. Yet another reason to be on your best behavior while travelling.

Spirit of 76

The flight attendant shouldn't have snatched the cigarette from her. The correct way to deal with obnoxious smokers is to use the fire extinguisher. A faceful of dry chemicals should be enough to stop them from lighting up.

brooklynbs

I'm always curious if they put people like this on a No-Fly list, even if plead out or get out of the charge on a technicality. I would think that the airline has cause to ban her from all of their flights. One hopes at least.