A Russian woman accused of a booze-fueled midair attack on United Airlines flight attendants had all federal criminal charges dropped after being deported by US immigration authorities to Italy.
Kristina Kedysheva, 37, faced up to 21 years for interfering with a flight crew and assault aboard an aircraft after a transatlantic flight from Milan, Italy, to Newark, NJ, was diverted to Bangor, Maine. Approximately four hours into the flight, Kedysheva, after consuming several drinks, repeatedly demanded more alcohol. When flight attendants refused to serve her, she allegedly became increasingly aggressive, ignored instructions to return to her seat, filmed crew members, and called them "racist." She had to be held down by five people to prevent her from trying to open a door midair, and then bit a flight attendant's wrist and kicked them in the stomach, causing a shoulder injury. Passengers and crew helped overpower and restrain her until the aircraft landed. Kedysheva was removed from the flight, met by authorities, and charged. She spent approximately three weeks in custody in Bangor before being released and turned over to immigration authorities. Federal prosecutors in Maine subsequently abandoned the case, and all criminal charges were dropped after US immigration authorities deported her to Italy, her point of origin, on September 29. Prosecutors stated that "further prosecution was not in the interests of justice," leading to the dismissal of charges without a determination of guilt. Kedysheva presently lives in Gessate, Italy.
