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Three 'intoxicated' Long Island women charged for assaulting Delta security officer at JFK

Three women were accused in connection with a September assault on a Delta Air Lines security officer at John F Kennedy International Airport

Three Long Island women were accused in connection with a September assault on a Delta Air Lines security officer at John F Kennedy International Airport, according to the US Attorney's Office. According to prosecutors, Jordan Nixon, 21, Janessa Torres, 21, and Johara Zavala, 44, were accused and jailed on January 13 for allegedly assaulting a Delta security officer on a JFK jetway after all three were refused boarding due to their "apparent intoxication.”  

The three women were supposed to board a Delta aircraft to San Juan, Puerto Rico, but their bookings were modified for later that day. The three ladies ordered a total of nine alcoholic beverages while waiting for their flight, as per the receipts from airport restaurants and bars as well as security footage. A member of the flight crew and the captain exited the airplane and observed the defendants. They were determined that the women should be denied boarding because they were acting belligerently, one of the defendants was refusing to wear her mask properly, and Zavala was visibly disoriented and possibly intoxicated, as per the announcement made by US Attorney's Office.

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The three ladies were refused boarding by the aircraft crew and were offered the opportunity to reschedule their journey. But during that time, Nixon seized the security officer's radio and repeatedly beat him with it. She reportedly hit a gate agent in the face who later fell to the ground and was attacked by the other two women while the gate agent attempted to seek further assistance. According to authorities, the gate agent and security officer were both treated at a hospital for their injuries.

Michael Driscoll, the FBI's associate director in charge, stated that "we are aggressively addressing this emerging threat and take all cases seriously." During the initial hearing, the judge granted one-woman special permission to fly to Florida for a prepaid trip on January 14. Given her plans to fly and the nature of the case including alleged violence, while traveling, the government requested the judge to refuse the motion, but the judge denied it. However, the defendants were told to submit their passports.

"Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and customers, and we have zero tolerance for physical violence on our airports and on our planes. We will work fully with law enforcement officials to ensure this unacceptable conduct is held to account,” Delta said in a statement, CNN reports. In court, all parties announced that they want to cooperate in court proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for February 3.