Police arrested Jane Coats after they say she caused a disturbance on a flight from Chicago and then assaulted an officer.
American Airlines flight landed safely at McCarran International Airport at 8:15 p.m., but officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department were waiting at the gate.
Las Vegas local Ryan Flanigan says he was the victim of the disturbance.
Flanigan told 8 News NOW he knew he was in for trouble when Coats, who sat next to him, starting claiming there was a carbon monoxide leak and President Donald Trump was going to personally fix it.
He explained once the plane took off, the irate passenger kept shouting and using profanity. Finally, he had enough and asked her to quiet down.
He claims the lady told him she was going to move seats or hit him. Flanigan jokingly said, “go ahead” and that’s when Coats allegedly punched him in the eye.
He says it wasn’t too hard of a hit, but he definitely felt the impact.
After that, she headed to the back of the plane and started another altercation with crew members.
Flanigan added the crew members responded quickly by cuffing her and making sure she didn’t bother anyone else.
“They were real good and they took my statement and explained what they needed from me. They were very apologetic. I told them, it’s not your fault. They were getting cussed at and screamed at too but they did a really great job and I think it’s important because airlines catch a lot of flak lately for doing a lot of stuff bad so they should get commended when they do stuff good,” Flanigan said.
Once the flight landed about an hour late, officers were waiting, according to Lt. David Gordon, LVMPD.
Flanigan and several other passengers and the flight crew gave their statements to investigators.
As police escorted Coats from the plane, but she assaulted one of the officers, Lt. Gordon said.
That’s when Coats was then placed under arrest.