Castillo, 45, struck a flight attendant on the buttocks with the back of her hand during Saturday's flight, FBI Special Agent Peter Carricato said in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. She also stood and fell onto the head of a blind passenger and later started pulling the person's hair, the complaint stated.

Ankle cuffs kept slipping off Castillo, so the flight crew and two passengers were forced to use duct tape to keep her in her seat, the complaint states.

She calmed as the pilot diverted the flight to Charlotte-Douglass International Airport, but became disruptive again when authorities boarded the plane to remove her, authorities said.

Watch how much you drink at the airport, people.

FBI: Airline passenger restrained with duct tape [AP]
(Photo: Getty)

The AP says:

United Airlines says 1 of its pilots has been arrested by police for being over the legal alcohol limit.

The airline says the first officer was due to join the crew of flight 955 from London's Heathrow Airport to San Francisco when he was arrested early Sunday morning. London's Metropolitan Police say the 44-year-old was arrested following a breath test but has since been bailed.

Fox News has some quotes from horrified passengers who witnessed the pilot being marched off the plane:

“A couple of police officers stormed on to the plane as we were all sitting down and went straight for the cockpit.

“We didn’t have a clue what was happening and we were kept waiting on the plane for hours.

“It is horrifying to think we were apparently so close to being flown thousands of miles by somebody who could have been drinking."

United Airlines issued a statement about the incident:

"United Airlines' alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have absolutely no tolerance for abuse or violation of this well-established policy.

"Safety is our number one priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are co-operating with the authorities and conducting a full investigation.

Sigh.

Pilot arrested after failing breath test [Reuters]
'Drunk' United Airlines Pilot Arrested Before Takeoff [Fox News]
Pilot arrested in UK for being over alcohol limit [WHBF]
Pilot Arrested at Heathrow Following Breath Test[WSJ Middle Seat Blog]
(Photo: Zonaphoto )

The man was taken into custody and later released on bail. A Delta spokesperson told the AP that they will be filing charges against the man for interfering with flight crewmembers. Well, at least he was paying attention during the "safety lecture," right?

Angry flier uses emergency slide to exit Delta jet [USAToday](Thanks, David!)
(Photo: balmes )

Meet Christina Elizabeth Szele of Woodside, NY. She was charged with assault and interference with flight attendants after she caused such a disturbance that her flight was diverted to Colorado. According to an FBI agent who witness the event, Szele yelled "obscenities and racial epithets" when a flight attendant tried to keep her from smoking, prompting the flight attendants to restrain her in plastic cuffs... Szele then broke through the cuffs, and commenced punching.

Szele had been drinking and doesn't remember any of it, says the AP.

Woman accused of punching JetBlue flight attendant [Examiner]
(Photo: So Cal Metro )

Petrie, a Canadian citizen, managed to order five vodka drinks and two glasses of wine from two different flight attendants before AA cut him off during his flight from Seattle to Miami. After making some suggestive remarks to female flight attendants and other female passengers, Petrie is reported to have said: "you don't [deleted] decide how much vodka I can drink . . . I'll meet you off the airplane." He also grabbed a female passenger's butt, because that's the type of classy guy he is.

Petrie then made his way into the airplane's lavatory where he began loudly pounding on the airplane's walls. At this point the flight was diverted to Denver so Petrie could be arrested.

From The Province:

Russell Petrie, 30, struck a plea bargain that will likely result in a sentence of six to 12 months and up to a $10,000 fine, according to Colorado court documents.

Maximum penalty for the charge is 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Petrie will also be asked to reimburse American Airlines $7,757 for the cost of landing the Seattle-Miami flight in Denver.

In exchange for a guilty plea, a charge of sexual assault was dropped against Petrie, who also grabbed the buttocks of a female passenger on the flight, according to an agreed statement of facts filed in court.

Drunken airline passenger makes plea bargain [Canada.com]
(Photo:whatatravisty)

A 64-year-old man was trying to get past airport security with a liter bottle of vodka, and, rather than surrender the bottle or pay an extra fee to check his carry-on baggage—he chugged the entire thing.

He was soon unable to stand or walk, and had to be taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for alcohol poisoning.

Man chugs liter of vodka in airport security line [MSNBC] (Thanks, Douglas!)
(Photo:Brittany G)

...cannot reasonably find that approval of application will protect the public health and safety or that it is in the public interest.

According to The Arizona Republic, this is "the first time the agency has taken such an action." US Airways earned New Mexico's ire twice before for boozing up passengers who were later cited for drunk driving. The state had issued the airline a citation, and even reached out to discuss a settlement. US Airways never responded.

"That citation is still open, it's never been dealt with," [Bob Hagan, a spokesman for the department] said.

Those two incidents and a third in which state employees witnessed US Airways flight attendants serving alcohol to a visibly intoxicated man while on board a flight from Phoenix to San Diego on Nov. 6, weighed heavily on the state's decision to deny the permit, Hagan said.

"That obviously is not a violation of New Mexico law because they weren't in New Mexico air space, but we took that as an indication US Airways is a questionable candidate for a New Mexico liquor license," Hagan said.

The man was unable to stand by himself and slurred when he asked police why he wasn't allowed to board his American Eagle flight. He was unaware that his shoe was missing.

Upon further questioning, the article tell us, "police indicated the man told them he had been drinking vodka in an airport restaurant. He was held on suspicion of public intoxication."

The salad dressing that covered the man, and the walls of the jet bridge, was from an open box of food that was sitting on his lap.

People, the airport is not a bar. We know you're bored and the water costs as much as the booze, but don't lose your head. Or your shoe. Or paint with your food.

Confused man with one shoe found covered in dressing at D/FW [Star-Telegram]
(Photo:Drewski2112)

Delta canceled the flight after not enough crew members could be located to operate the plane. Mills was arrested and has been charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence, alcohol intoxication and terroristic threatening, after she told the captain "you're dead," as she was escorted out of the plane and placed onto a stretcher.

Mills is currently in the Fayette County, KY jail. And yes, apparently "terroristic threatening" is a real crime. Good job, Delta. This regional carrier represents your brand well.

Flight Cancelled; Police Say Flight Attendant Was Drunk [WKYT]

Flight attendant arrested; allegedly drunk on plane [WHAS] (Thanks, Jay!)

(Photo:WKYT)

We've heard of drunks on a plane, we've heard of babies on a plane, but Nick Nolte in an airport? What's a consumer to do?

Without further ado...

Consumerist's Top 5 Strategies For Dealing With Drunk Nick Nolte While Your Flight Is Delayed:

1) Take pictures. They may be worth money.

2) If you flight's delay is actually CAUSED by drunk Nick Nolte, you will not be entitled to compensation from the airline, because drunk Nick Nolte qualifies as "force majeur."

3) Drunk Nick Nolte documentation should be mailed along with your complaint letter, to demonstrate the hardship you were forced to endure during your delay.

4) Do not expect compensation for any dollars you give to Nick Nolte so that he can use the vending machine.

5) If you lose your drunk Nick Nolte in the airport, make sure to notify the airport management as well as the airline. Many consumers who lose their Nick Nolte skip this step. FYI, The maximum amount of insurance on your lost or stolen Nick Nolte is $3000. Oh wait, no. That's lost baggage. Never mind.

Nick Nolte Crashes in Hawaiian Airport [TMZ via Dlisted]

It turns out that US Airways did not have a New Mexico liquor license and was in violation of state law. They were issued a citation which, according to the Arizona Republic ,"carries a first-offense fine of $1,000 to $2,000." US Airways then applied for a license and was issued a temporary one until the matter could be decided in court.

Since the first incident, another US Airways passenger has been arrested for DUI and US Airways has not resolved the first citation. In addition, the court claims that the airline "delayed the implementation of a program for dispensing alcohol, created by the University of New Mexico, as part of a statewide crackdown on drunken driving."

Their temporary liquor license has been suspended as of today. All US Airways flights in and out of New Mexico will have to stay dry until the matter of their license is settled. US Airways responded to the suspension by claiming that they were implementing the drunk driving training. US Airways spokesman told the Arizona Republic, "We think we did comply with what they were asking for."

For their casual attitude towards drunk driving and disregard of the laws of the state of New Mexico, we decree that US Airways has become the Paris Hilton of airlines. Good job. —MEGHANN MARCO

US Airways is denied license to sell alcohol on flights to, from New Mexico [Arizona Republic]
(Photo: brappy!)

PREVIOUSLY: Man Arrested For Driving After Drinking On A US Airways Flight

So you're asking yourself, why is this news? Back in November, another drunk passenger from a US Airways flight drove after being over served on that airline and killed 5 members of a Las Vegas family when he "drove the wrong way on Interstate 25." It was later found that US Airways did not have a valid liquor license.

The airline has since applied for a temporary license and are serving alcohol while they wait for approval in New Mexico.

Remember to watch how much you have to drink when traveling. It's long. It's boring. There's no food. Don't get to a place where you can't drive yourself home. The report said the driver in question had been served two small bottles of whiskey on top of whatever he'd had at the airport. If you're going to drive home, perhaps that's a bit too much. —MEGHANN MARCO

Police: Drunken driver served on flight [The New Mexican]
(Photo: JohnKit)

According to the FBI indictment, "Persing's face was pressed to Sewell's vaginal area" during the September Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Raleigh, N.C. When a flight attendant gave them a second warning, Persing reacted angrily and the couple, both in their early 40s, were arrested when the plane reached its destination."

You're laughing now, but Persing isn't. He's been convicted of a felony in a jury trial and now faces 20 years in prison, some of which he will likely have to serve.

MSNBC, (who failed to mention the "face pressed in vaginal area" part of the complaint and are now seen by this website as somewhat prudish to say the least) reports that Persing threatened the flight attendant twice after she refused to serve them alcohol.

So how is it that a little "dining at the Y" can equal a possible 20 year prison term? "You can't make any threatening gesture to an attendant because it does violate the Patriot Act," explained Slepian [ABC's Airplane Security Expert]. "They don't want you getting out of your seat except to go the lavatory. The whole idea is to keep control. If you react to the attendant, you're going to get locked up."

So once again, we at Consumerist remind you not to get drunk on a plane. And get your head out of her lap....or the terrorists win. —MEGHANN MARCO

California Man May Go to Prison for Kissing on a Plane [ABC News]
Man convicted for mile-high makeout [MSNBC]
(Photo: iwantamonkey)