Woman sets blankets on fire aboard JetBlue flight
No injuries reported, passengers are allow to bring a cigarette lighter onboard planes in their carry-on
Federal authorities arrested a woman who allegedly set two blankets and a control panel on fire during a JetBlue flight bound for Puerto Rico.
The FBI said Wednesday that Idializ Gomez used a lighter to burn the items mid-flight. She was charged after landing in the southern Puerto Rico town of Ponce aboard a flight that originated in New York City.
The FBI said in a statement that the woman had been charged with the destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities in violation of Title 18 USC Section 32(a)(1).
The agency said that the incident occurred Tuesday before dawn. It’s unclear the motive behind the attempted fires.
U.S. federal regulators allow passengers to carry one lighter in their carry-on baggage.
JetBlue said the incident was under investigation and wouldn’t comment further on the matter, according to The Sun.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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