"Parachute, Please"—Woman in Her 40s Causes Disturbance and Assaults Crew on Passenger Plane, Receives Prison Sentence

[The Financial News] A woman in her 40s was sentenced to prison for verbally abusing and assaulting a flight attendant aboard a passenger plane in flight.
According to News1 on the 20th, the Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Chief Judge Kim Kwang-seop) sentenced the defendant, identified as A, to one year and two months in prison and a fine of 100,000 won for violating the Aviation Security Act and other charges.
On June 27 at around 6:27 p.m., A was indicted for causing a disturbance on a T'way Air passenger plane flying from Gimpo International Airport to Jeju Island, verbally abusing and repeatedly assaulting a flight attendant.
At the time, A also shouted profanities at other passengers, kicked a female flight attendant who tried to stop her, and continued to threaten and verbally abuse the crew.
A was also reported to have grabbed and assaulted the hand of another crew member who was recording her actions.
The disturbance continued.
She reportedly tried to run toward the emergency exit, demanding a parachute, but was restrained by passengers who witnessed the incident.
A was arrested on the spot by a Special Judicial Police Officer, who is authorized under the Aviation Security Act, and handed over to the police.
Investigations revealed that on June 18, prior to the incident, A had followed a man at Gimpo International Airport for six minutes, causing him distress.
When police officers responded to the report and attempted to check her identity and whether she was carrying any weapons, A assaulted four officers and was also charged with obstructing official duties.
The court stated, "This offense posed a significant risk to the safe operation of the aircraft and was of a serious nature. The degree of violence was not minor, and the victims have not forgiven the defendant, making a prison sentence unavoidable."
However, the court also explained, "The sentence was determined in consideration of the defendant's confession and remorse."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter