US court drops all charges against Russian citizen Kristina Kedysheva over flight incident
In short
A US court has dismissed the case against Russian citizen Kristina Kedysheva (Кристина Кедышева), who faced more than 20 years in prison on charges of interfering with a flight crew and assault, her lawyer told RIA Novosti on October 9. TASS and Kommersant reported that the court acted after US prosecutors filed a notice dropping the charges; Kommersant said the court materials do not give the prosecutors' reasons.
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A US court has dismissed the criminal case against Russian citizen Kristina Kedysheva (Кристина Кедышева), who had faced more than 20 years in prison over her behaviour on a flight, RIA Novosti reported on October 9, citing her lawyer Erik Kroker (Эрик Крокер). "Kristina's case was dismissed," Kroker told the agency. RIA Novosti also reported that all charges against her had been dropped. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to Kommersant, federal judge John Nivison (Джон Нивисон) ruled to drop all charges against Kedysheva. TASS and Kommersant reported that the decision followed a notice filed by US prosecutors dropping the charges. Kommersant said the court materials do not state the reasons for the prosecutors' decision. [ 3 , 4 ]
Kedysheva had been charged with interfering with the actions of a flight crew or flight attendant and with assault, RIA Novosti reported. Kommersant reported that she was detained in early September over an attack on crew members of a plane flying from Milan to Newark. [ 1 , 4 ]
Kommersant said the flight was operated by United Airlines and took place on September 8. According to court materials cited by the newspaper, the woman behaved aggressively, did not follow the crew's instructions and approached the handle of the aircraft's rear door. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Bangor, Maine, Kommersant reported. [ 4 ]
RIA Novosti reported that Kedysheva swore and demanded alcohol on the flight and, after refusing the captain's order to take her seat, allegedly tried to open the rear door of the aircraft. Citing witnesses, the agency said crew members and passengers tried to restrain her, and that she allegedly hit and bit a flight attendant and scratched a passenger. She was arrested, RIA Novosti reported. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The dismissal ends a case in which a Russian citizen faced more than 20 years in prison in the United States. Russian state news agencies and a business daily all covered the outcome, while the reasons for the prosecutors' decision have not been made public.
Key facts
- A US court dismissed the case against Russian citizen Kristina Kedysheva and dropped all charges. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Federal judge John Nivison (Джон Нивисон) ruled to drop the charges, according to Kommersant. [ 4 ]
- The decision followed a notice from US prosecutors dropping the charges. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Kedysheva had faced more than 20 years in prison on charges of interfering with a flight crew or flight attendant and assault. [ 1 ]
- The incident took place on September 8 on a United Airlines flight from Milan to Newark, which made an emergency landing in Bangor, Maine, Kommersant reported. [ 4 ]
- Court materials do not state why prosecutors decided to drop the case, Kommersant reported. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A US court dismissed the case against Kristina Kedysheva and dropped all charges. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The court's decision followed a notice from US prosecutors dropping the charges. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Kedysheva had been charged with interfering with a flight crew and assault. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The incident took place on a flight on September 8. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Why US prosecutors decided to drop the charges. Kommersant reported that the court materials do not state the reasons.
- Whether Kedysheva hit and bit a flight attendant and scratched a passenger. Only RIA Novosti reported this, citing witnesses, and described it as alleged.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 9: RIA Novosti reports, citing Kedysheva's lawyer, that the US court dismissed her case. [ 1 ]
- October 9: RIA Novosti reports that all charges against her were dropped. [ 2 ]
- October 9: TASS reports the court dropped all charges after prosecutors filed a notice abandoning them. [ 3 ]
- October 9: Kommersant reports federal judge John Nivison ruled to drop all charges. [ 4 ]