A 39-year-old India-American woman traveling to see her family in Colombia instead spent Christmas in jail after she allegedly scratched a pilot during an fracas aboard a plane.
Trisha Sen has been charged with battery during the Christmas Eve incident, according to TV Station CBS4 Miami.
She claimed she was acting in self-defense as airline staffers converged on her during the JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale Florida.
Police said Sen scratched a pilot who attempted to speak with her and fought two flight attendants who tried to restrain her, the station reported.
The incident occurred after she was cut off from having another drink on board and was pacing the aisle, the station reported.
A passenger on the flight took a video of her being escorted off the plane, which he posted on his Instagram page.
Sen tried to state her case to the judge on her court appearance Christmas Day, but the judge cut her off and said she would have to wait until her trial.
"No, no, no," the judge said, "Don't tell me about the facts of your case, okay, we're going to save that for your trial judge."
Sen's bond was set at USD 1,000, orlandosentinel.Com reported.
She said she was fine with not being given another drink but was trying to get back to her seat when the incident occurred.
JetBlue issued a statement confirming a woman was aggressive on the flight and "scratched and possibly bit a JetBlue Crewmember.
