Woman allegedly touches passengers' faces, then punches elderly travelers during Caribbean flight

12 Mar 2026 By foxnews

A Caribbean getaway turned into a midair nightmare Monday when an Alabama woman allegedly went berserk on a pair of seniors, forcing the flight to make an emergency diversion.

Ebony Shyteria Harper, a 31-year-old standing just 4-foot-11, is trading her airplane seat for a jail cell after a disagreement turned into a fistfight at 30,000 feet. The chaos kicked off on Frontier flight 2089 from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the plane cruised toward the mainland.

According to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital, Harper was headed to the back of the aircraft to use the restroom but ended up getting way too close for comfort with a fellow passenger, identified as Jimmie Lee Baker.

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Witnesses say Harper "leaned" her body right onto Baker, who was sitting in the very last row. When the uncomfortable traveler asked the Alabama woman to move her arm off his back, things quickly deteriorated.

Instead of apologizing, police say Harper allegedly reached out and began "touching" Baker's face with her hands. That's when his wife, identified as Lakisha Baker, stepped in.

Lakisha told Harper to back off her husband and Harper allegedly began "touching" the wife's face too, police said. Lakisha reportedly struck Harper, and Harper began swinging back.

The airborne fistfight took another turn when a fourth passenger, identified as Annette Baker, tried to play peacemaker. She told police that Harper turned toward her and began "striking her numerous times with a closed fist" directly in the face.

The flight was diverted to Miami International Airport, where a welcoming committee of FBI agents and TSA officials was waiting at the gate to remove Harper from the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital and said it was continuing to investigate.

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While the victims managed to escape without visible wounds, according to the affidavit, they told authorities they want to press charges.

Harper is facing a felony charge of battery on a person 65 or older and one count of misdemeanor battery. Harper was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she remains as of Wednesday afternoon.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Frontier Airlines for comment.