Woman who caused American Airlines flight diversion in Phoenix fined $39K

A Hawaii woman whose disruption of a flight out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will have to pay for her behavior through jail time and restitution.

American Airlines Flight 694 had to return to Phoenix on Feb. 13, 2022, while on its way to Honolulu due to the disruptive passenger.

As The Arizona Republic reported, the flight was mid-air when it made an unscheduled return to Phoenix. It left the airport at 3:30 p.m. and landed back at 6:53 p.m. Phoenix law enforcement officials met the aircraft at the gate.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Cayla Farris, 29, was using profanities and threatening flight attendants and passengers. The flight crew was unable to continue their duties and the captain decided to return to Phoenix.

The disturbance had caused several flights to be rerouted.

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department handled the investigation while the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, was in charge of prosecution.

Farris pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with a flight crew member. She has been sentenced to a time-served 3.6 months in prison and must pay $38,952 in restitution to American Airlines, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

She will also face three years of probation and cannot fly on a commercial aircraft without prior court approval.

Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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