Woman assaults flight attendant when overhead bin runs out of space, MN cops say
.jpg "A woman assaulted a Delta flight attendant during an argument about overhead bin space, Minnesota police said.")
A California woman aboard a plane in Minnesota pushed a flight attendant during a dispute about her bag, police said.
Priya Swaminathan, 45, got into an argument with a Delta flight attendant June 1 when she was told to place her bag in the overhead compartment, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport police said in a probable cause statement filed June 2.
By the time the aircraft doors needed to close, the overhead space was full. The flight attendant informed Swaminathan that she would need to check her bag plane side, according to police.
The woman became irate and started yelling at other passengers on the flight as she paced up and down the aisle, police said.
Swaminathan was screaming at other passengers when the flight attendant approached her in an attempt to have a conversation, police said. That’s when the woman “charged” at the attendant and pushed her, according to the probable cause statement.
She was forcefully escorted off of the plane and arrested by airport police, authorities said.
She was charged with multiple misdemeanors, including obstruction of legal process with force, assault, disorderly conduct and interference with flight operations, according to court documents.
In a statement, Swaminathan’s attorney, Adam T. Johnson, said, “It is important to keep in mind that the court of public opinion is not a court of law. Ms. Swaminathan is presumed innocent of the charges against her, and she looks forward to vindicating her innocence at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum.”
A spokesperson for Delta Airlines told McClatchy News that the San Francisco-bound flight was delayed by 1 hour and 25 minutes.
“The safety and security of our customers and people always comes first,” the airline said in a June 5 statement to McClatchy News. “Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will work with law enforcement authorities to that end. We thank our customers for their patience, and we apologize for the delay in their travels.”
Swaminathan, of San Jose, California, was booked into Hennepin County jail June 1 and was released the next day after posting a $3,000 bond, according to jail records.
The woman is scheduled to appear in court June 16. If convicted, she faces almost two years in prison and up to $6,000 in fines, according to court records.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 9:53 AM with the headline "Woman assaults flight attendant when overhead bin runs out of space, MN cops say."
