Woman threatening flight attendants had to be duct-taped to seat, feds say
A woman flying with American Airlines had to be duct-taped to her seat until the flight landed in Las Vegas after federal authorities said she made death threats against flight attendants and showed other “disturbing” behavior.
While restrained with flex-cuffs and duct-tape, Ketty J. Dilone, of Las Vegas, kicked a flight attendant in the legs twice, causing the woman to fall on the connecting flight from Charlotte on Sept. 16, according to court filings. The plane had initially taken off from Punta Cana.
Dilone was arrested upon landing at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada said in a Sept. 18 news release.
Now she is charged with interference with a flight crew and assault “by striking, beating, or wounding,” prosecutors said.
A federal public defender representing Dilone did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Sept. 19.
After the flight left Charlotte on Sept. 16, an FBI special agent wrote in an affidavit that Dilone “was standing up during the flight, walking down the aisle and yelling.”
Then, about halfway through the flight, Dilone was seen recording other passengers and flight attendants, the affidavit says.
Her behavior escalated after she was asked to stop, according to the filing.
Dilone began threatening the flight crew and “made several statements to the effect of ‘I will kill you (expletive)!’” the affidavit says.
“Dilone also made aggressive postures towards the flight attendants when they attempted to calm her down,” the FBI agent wrote in the filing.
As a result, Dilone was restrained with flex-cuffs, the affidavit says.
A flight attendant then duct-taped Dilone’s torso to the seat to “prevent (her) from sliding out,” according to the affidavit.
After Dilone kicked this flight attendant, the affidavit says her legs were duct-taped for the safety of others.
For the rest of the flight, volunteer passengers sat next to Dilone and flight attendants stood by her to keep watch, according to the filing.
This “prevented them from performing their duties of preparing and securing the aircraft for landing,” the affidavit says.
During Dilone’s initial court appearance in Las Vegas federal court on Sept. 17, she was “fully restrained” during the proceeding, records show.
Dilone ultimately had a medical episode when the proceeding was adjourned and was hospitalized, the entry says.
She is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 1, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In an emailed statement to McClatchy News, American Airlines said “The safety of our customers and team members is our highest priority. “
“We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with law enforcement on its investigation,” the airline added.
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Woman threatening flight attendants had to be duct-taped to seat, feds say."
.jpg)