An Alabama woman’s Caribbean getaway quickly became chaotic when she assaulted two elderly passengers, leading to an emergency landing. Ebony Chateria Harper, 31, who stands at just 4 feet 11 inches, is now facing serious charges after a disagreement escalated into a physical altercation mid-flight.
This unsettling incident took place on Frontier Flight 2089, which was en route from Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. According to a police report that was shared, Harper reportedly moved to the back of the plane for a restroom break but ended up standing too close to a passenger named Jimmy Lee Baker. Witnesses indicated that Harper “leaned” over him while he was seated in the rear row.
Things took a turn for the worse as Baker expressed discomfort, asking Harper to remove her arm from his back. Rather than apologizing, Harper is said to have grasped Baker’s face with her hands. This prompted a response from Baker’s wife, Lakisha, who intervened on her husband’s behalf.
Witnesses reported Lakisha telling Harper to back off, but the situation escalated further when Harper began “touching” Lakisha’s face. In what seemed like a heated moment, Lakisha struck Harper, further intensifying the conflict.
A fourth passenger, Annette Baker, attempted to diffuse the situation, but unfortunately, Harper turned on her, allegedly “punching her in the face multiple times.” The midair melee ultimately forced the plane to divert to Miami International Airport, where a contingent of FBI agents and TSA officials awaited Harper’s arrival.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the episode, which has drawn considerable attention.
While the elderly couple fortunately sustained no visible injuries, they expressed their intention to pursue legal action. Harper faces a felony charge for battery against a person over the age of 65 and a misdemeanor battery charge. As of Wednesday afternoon, she remains held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Officials from Frontier Airlines have yet to comment on the incident.
