Jennifer Rodriguez received a five-month federal prison sentence for her actions.
TAMPA, Fla. — Newly-obtained body camera video shows the arrest of a 37-year-old woman who delayed a flight by threatening to “beat up” flight attendants and also impeding the flight crew’s ability to render medical assistance to a passenger in need.
An April 2024 federal indictment says Jennifer Rodriguez, 37, assaulted and intimidated flight attendants on JetBlue flight 2751 heading to Puerto Rico.
“Who did she threaten?” a Tampa International Airport police officer asked flight attendants on the plane. “All of us,” they replied. “I 100 percent would not have doubted that she would have started a fight in the back of that cabin. I was fully prepared to defend,” one flight attendant was seen saying on camera.
Federal officials said Rodriguez threatened to “hit, slap and beat up flight attendants” as well as “drag them down the aisle by their scarves.”
“She was saying she wasn’t afraid of jail,” a flight attendant said.
For years, 10 Investigates has been reporting on unruly passengers flying through the Tampa Bay area, slowing down lines and spurring violence, ultimately impacting flights.
Just last year, we reported how Abraham Yacoub received a three-year sentence in federal prison for getting a loaded gun through a TSA screening checkpoint in Tampa.
However, airport officials say these incidents don’t happen all the time, and while they declined to comment on Rodriguez’s case, TPA Police Chief Charlie Vazquez said any type of disturbance will come with serious consequences.
“Bad behavior, of course, the immediate effects of, you’re probably going to jail. And then there’s long term effects at TSA. They may put you on a no-fly list,” he said.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty and must turn herself in by noon on March 13.