A Caribbean escape turned chaotic for passengers aboard a flight from Puerto Rico to Atlanta on Monday, as an Alabama woman allegedly instigated a disturbance in the skies, leading to an unexpected emergency landing.
Ebony Shyteria Harper, a 31-year-old woman of short stature, is now facing jail time after an altercation broke out with senior passengers on Frontier flight 2089. The flight, which departed from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico, was bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when the incident unfolded midair.
As reported in an arrest affidavit accessed by Fox News Digital, the trouble began when Harper attempted to make her way to the rear of the aircraft to use the lavatory. During her journey down the aisle, she allegedly invaded the personal space of a fellow traveler, Jimmie Lee Baker, who was seated in the last row of the plane.
Eyewitnesses recount that Harper inadvertently leaned against Baker, prompting him to request that she remove her arm from his back. Instead of de-escalating, the situation took a turn for the worse. Harper is accused of responding by touching Baker’s face with her hands, an action that catalyzed further conflict.
In defense of her husband, Lakisha Baker intervened, attempting to defuse the situation. However, the confrontation had already reached a point of no return, forcing the flight to make an emergency diversion. Harper now faces serious charges, including battery and battery against a person 65 or older, as confirmed by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Instead of apologizing, police say Harper allegedly reached out and began “touching” Baker’s face with her hands. That’s when his wife, identified as Lakisha Baker, stepped in.
Lakisha told Harper to back off her husband and Harper allegedly began “touching” the wife’s face too, police said. Lakisha reportedly struck Harper, and Harper began swinging back.
The airborne fistfight took another turn when a fourth passenger, identified as Annette Baker, tried to play peacemaker. She told police that Harper turned toward her and began “striking her numerous times with a closed fist” directly in the face.
The flight was diverted to Miami International Airport, where a welcoming committee of FBI agents and TSA officials was waiting at the gate to remove Harper from the aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital and said it was continuing to investigate.
A Frontier Airlines Airbus A319 plane (iStock)
While the victims managed to escape without visible wounds, according to the affidavit, they told authorities they want to press charges.
Harper is facing a felony charge of battery on a person 65 or older and one count of misdemeanor battery. Harper was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she remains as of Wednesday afternoon.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Frontier Airlines for comment.
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