A couple from Connecticut, who were apprehended for engaging in a sexual act in front of children on a JetBlue flight, have managed to avoid facing criminal charges. Trista L. Reilly, aged 43, and Christopher D. Arnold, aged 42, were arrested upon landing in Florida after departing from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The pair, who hail from Danbury, were initially accused of two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior in the presence of minors, which is classified as a felony in Florida.
Nevertheless, the charges against the couple were dismissed by Florida authorities recently, with the reasons for the decision remaining undisclosed, as reported by The Mercury News. Court records indicate that a mother traveling with her two children onboard JetBlue Flight 163 on July 19 notified a flight attendant, who witnessed Ms. Reilly positioned face down on Mr. Arnold’s lap. This prompted the crew to contact law enforcement.
The couple was taken into custody shortly after the plane landed at 11.30 am, according to ABC affiliate WWSB. Subsequently, they were released on their own recognizance and pled not guilty in August.
In response to the incident, JetBlue stated to The Mirror that the alleged behavior was “entirely unacceptable” and goes against the airline’s policies. The company emphasized that upon receiving the report, their crew acted promptly by involving JetBlue’s security team and law enforcement. JetBlue confirmed full cooperation with the investigation and stated that the implicated customers are no longer permitted to fly with the airline.
In a separate incident, police swarmed a Frontier Airlines plane following the discovery of a threatening note in the aircraft’s restroom. The flight, traveling from Denver, Colorado, to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, landed safely in Dallas without any further issues.
Frontier Airlines conveyed to The Mirror that on November 3, during the flight from Denver International Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a crew member found a threatening note in the lavatory. Upon landing at DFW, law enforcement assessed the threat as non-credible, and the aircraft was cleared to proceed to the terminal for passenger disembarkation.