Tampa Flight Forced Back to Gate After Passenger Threatens Crew

A.I. depiction of the incident onboard

By Staff Reporter

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published January 27th, 2026

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Tampa Flight Forced Back to Gate After Passenger Threatens Crew

TAMPA, FL — A routine flight out of Tampa took a dramatic turn last year after a passenger’s refusal to end a phone call escalated into threats and intimidation directed at flight attendants, ultimately forcing the plane back to the gate.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jennifer Rodriguez, 37, of Puerto Rico, has been sentenced to five months in federal prison for interfering with flight attendants by assault and intimidation. The sentence was imposed by Kathryn Mizelle after Rodriguez pleaded guilty on July 17, 2025. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.

Court records show the incident happened on April 21, 2024, aboard a commercial flight departing Tampa International Airport and bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico. After the aircraft pushed back from the gate, a flight attendant repeatedly asked Rodriguez to end a cellphone call. Instead, investigators say the situation quickly escalated.

Rodriguez allegedly began yelling at flight attendants and threatened to hit, slap, and “beat up” crew members. She also threatened to pull their hair and drag them down the aisle by their scarves. Authorities say her actions interfered with the crew’s ability to assist a nearby passenger who needed medical attention and prevented the cabin from being properly prepared for takeoff.

Due to the disturbance, the pilot made the decision to return the aircraft to the gate. Passengers were forced to deplane so Rodriguez could be escorted off the plane by law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with Tampa International Airport Police. The prosecution was handled by Joseph Wheeler III.

iSkyNews.com will continue to follow federal cases impacting travelers and airport safety across Florida.

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