Flight 'Sex' Couple Faces Federal Charges

California Man And Woman Indicted For 'Overt Sexual Activity' On Flight To Raleigh, N.C.

(AP)  A California couple faces federal charges after allegedly refusing to stop "overt sexual activity" on a flight to Raleigh, N.C.

Carl Warren Persing, of Lakewood, Calif., and Dawn Elizabeth Sewell, of Huntington Beach, Calif., were indicted on charges of interfering with flight crew members during their Sept. 15 Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles.

According to court documents, flight attendants saw Persing and Sewell kissing, embracing and "acting in a manner that made other passengers uncomfortable" while the plane was stopped in Phoenix.

A flight attendant asked them to stop. They obeyed initially but resumed the behavior during the flight from Phoenix to Raleigh, authorities said.

When the flight attendant again requested them to stop, Persing allegedly told the flight attendant: "I'm going to give you one warning to get out of my face."

Persing and Sewell continued the verbal harassment after a flight attendant refused to serve Persing alcohol, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officials were waiting for the couple when they arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Messages left by The Associated Press for Persing and Sewell's attorneys were not returned.

[olebd]

Ahh young love:)

[talk2kim67]

Idiots! Go to the bathroom and do it in private!

[einsteinian2]

he musta gone a big flabby one when he got pinched getting out of the plane...

[sharncedar]

Good use of our tax dollars - prosecuting these dangerous criminals -- too bad some of those rich people and politicians like Foley aren't paying taxes, I'm sure they'd like to know that the feds are busting ***** kids

[linfinster]

What the heck does that mean?? lolol

[linfinster]

Einstien that is .. don't know what your saying ..

And Sharn .. yeah, well worth MY tax dollars. Idiots can't behave in public? To be disrepectful to those around you? I can only imagine what rascals they'd spawn.

[momnique]

Civility and self-control are what distinguishes humans from animals. Obviously, they missed the boat when it comes to knowing how to behave in public.

[toomuch2say2]

None of us know exactly what went on during that flight. While I agree that everyone has a certain level of responsibility to "behave" in public, I must agree with another comment regarding the waste of tax dollars.

The "interfering with a flight crew" provision is empowering flight attendants to make anyone's day miserable if they give them any problems whatsoever, even if those problems do not rise to the occasions upon which the law was designed for in the first place.

What recourse does the flying public have when the flight crew is rude or not accomodating? Can we call ahead on the skyphone and have them picked up by agents when we land? I think not.

[talsian]

Criminal prosecution of this is a flagrant violation of the constitution.

[blahblahbla5]

So they acted rude to some air waitresses. The airline is in its rights to refuse them future service. Instead they use anti-terrorism measures to have them arrested. It's just little people using big laws for their own personnel grudges. In every way a complete waist of taxpayer's money and the police's time.

[themooniac]

well it's one thing if it's Jenna Jameson makin out and quite another thing if it's like Roseann Barr & Tom Arnold makin out. I do think the latter could qualify as air terrorism.... Anyway, get a hotel and spare us all....

[JediMaya]

Flight attendants have way too much power. My husband was on a flight and the "woman" in the seat in front of him insisted that she had the right to move her seat back and my 6'3" husband was harassing her by his knees (which have a touch of arthritis) being in front of him and sitting normally. The flight attendants sided with her and made my husband sit sideways with his feet in the aisle for the 3 hour cross country flight from NYC to Phoenix. When he complained about his treatment, he was threatened with "do it or we will stop at the nearest airport and have you arrested for obstructing a flight crew". My advice: if you travel by air, take a small tape recorder so you can protect your rights! We are probably only hearing one side of this story.

[momto1g1b]

I can't believe how people are responding to this article. In fact, I can't beleive it made headlines. I am a former flight attendant and I know the training we receive. If something is making the majority on the plane uncomfortable, we need to use our own judgement in resolving the situation. Obviously, these passengers actions were disturbing people, so the flight attendant used his/her best judgement with this particular situation. Can't some of you stop criticizing people for performing their own jobs in the way they were trained. Did you not read the part about them being refused alcohol?? They obviously were already intoxicated or very close and I will tell you that there is not one airline that will tolerate that %$#&!! Check the stone in your own eye before casting one at someone else!!

[telescopium]

Wow this is rediculous.... I thought they must have been having *** right on the plane in view of everyone from how the headline made it sound... I can't believe kissing, even if they were flat out making out is wrong now. Thats some BS. Whatever, I guess, but I have to side with the couple here and say the airline should get out of their face a bit. How was kissing a threat in anyway? Then it just sounded like the airline hostess had a grudge, not dangerous... Oh the terror of a kiss!

[b453486]

they should have opened the door and chucked those two out. If the wanted a room they should have stayed home

[mickeyjay31-2009]

Holy Cow!! No wonder air fares are on the rise, along with some of the passangers. Hey, with a floor show like that, who wants movies? Now I know what they mean by the "friendly skies".

[nelsonre1]

That is what the heads/restrooms are for.... I'm a member of the "mile high" club but it was always on a "red eye" flight. One instance she was a flight attendant.

[syphlis]

After reading the title of this article i expected something more like "couple strips naked on plane and *** infront of group of girl scouts." The title of this article is VERY MISLEADING, i HATE how the media exploits situations like this. lawl

[trueprogress]

How can we judge what happen - You were not there ! Duh .

and anyhow, who are we to judge another person, or persons ?

What may be wrong in our culture, is not wrong in another culture .

from a graduate student

[annia1233]

Are dogs allowed in the main cabin of a plane? Their names "Persing and Sewell" and behavior make me think of dogs mating season.

[drsweener]

Belligerance towards authority, disregard for others in close proximity, and threatening an attendent. I have a hard time believing that is acceptable in any culture.

Trueprogress, Is this where I place any unfinished educational background?

[drsweener]

How can we judge what happened; we were not there ! Duh .

Anyhow, who are we to judge another person or persons?

What may be wrong in our culture, is not wrong in another culture.

From a graduate student

-Corrections made by somebody who obviously went to a better school...

[malrubius-2009]

Lots of things make us "uncomfortable", even on aircraft, but we put up with them don't we. Delays and lost baggage come to mind. I don't care if they were buck naked humping in the aisle so long as they don't hold up the drinks trolley with my Gin and Tonic :)

[wntrdeer]

wow; i must say the headlines on this makes one think they were having heated *** in front of all....kissing, great day. we see more in public than this on any given day .....the airline attendents seem to be in the wrong here...not the passengers who were kissing.....attrested for kissing...indeed what is our country coming to...now kissing in public is a terroist act , really...appears a waste of tax payer money and a waste of law inforcement useage to attrest people for kissing...

[mrassekh]

How can a person judge what has happened when he or she was not there? Duh.

Who are we to judge another person or persons anyway? What may be wrong in our culture may not be wrong in another.

An English major

[golfmiller55]

Here we go again with a bunch of Lib action with no respect to any one with any authority.Do as we please any where any time.

[tinker3478]

Maybe having to take off his shoes and coat got him in the mood. It doesn't take much for some jerks.

[blueridger-2009]

The fact remains that they were asked to stop what they were doing. It wasn't just kissing and others were being made uncomfortable. We expect parents to make their kids behave on planes, so what's the problem asking two adults to do the same?
The passengers in question probably had too much to drink anyway and were refused service.
Anyone who flies knows that you don't get the attendants upset, so they were asking to get bounced. If you can't control your urges in public 'get a room' and grow up.

[akarsno]

All this for some kissing and necking. What next??? My god ... next time when we *** too we might even get arrested!

[akarsno]

Next time even if we let go gas ... we might get arrested!

I think we already have lost our human rights to our own selves in this world

[eggcream50]

two immature children

[gypsygrl4]

I agree -- if it makes others uncomfortable and you are asked to stop then have the class and maturity to stop. I put this right up there with the woman who recently refused to use a blanket to cover her exposed breast while breastfeeding on a flight when asked. (By the way I am a young mother who breastfed my children -- there is a way to do it discreetly). I am so sick of people who think they are just so entitled and have no regard for others.

[susie341]

So because of a difference of what's offensive to some and not to others should result in a federal crime? I wish I had known that the last time I was on a plane for 5 hours with the lady that smelled like a walking butt. I could have got her arrested.

[dawne31]

These are all ALLEGATIONS. No one can say whether or not they are FACT.

[klobo7]

I'm sure they were just trying to have a little fun on the plane. Everyone one time in there life has done or thought about doing it. I think they give way too much control to flight attendants. No witnesses would comment on this because they were not as disturbed as much as the flight attendant. The couple was wrong to argue but it may have been blown out of proportion. Think about it the next time you fly, what are you thinking about doing with your loved one....

[alohaandrea]

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! These two people went to jail? Wow, way to use your BIG BAD power Mr. Flight Attendant. Sounds like you're ready for Air Marshall! Oh wait, I'm sorry, that would mean you'd have to know the differance between terrorist and loving couple!
On that note, go back to your cart and get me a drink so I can deal with you for the rest of the flight!!!

[susie341]

I wonder if the flight attendant wears spurs LOL!!!

[klobo7]

Aloha!!!Put the lotion in the basket...Sounds like someone else got in trouble on a plane before. An air Marshall would have watched the couple because that really isnt a reason to arrest someone, cmon!!

[cjm262001]

I heard on the news last night that they were merely trying to become members of the Mile High Club but that bathroom was full the entire flight due to the 7-11 quality breakfast burritos they served on the flight. Hell, if it makes the flight more entertaining and takes my attention off the smelly person sitting next to me I'm all for it. Just make sure you aim that thing away from my vodka tonic. Thanks.

[cjm262001]

I heard on the news last night that they were merely trying to become members of the Mile High Club but that bathroom was full the entire flight due to the 7-11 quality breakfast burritos they served on the flight. Hell, if it makes the flight more entertaining and takes my attention off the smelly person sitting next to me I'm all for it. Just make sure you aim that thing away from my vodka tonic. Thanks.

[cjm262001]

I heard on the news last night that they were merely trying to become members of the Mile High Club but that bathroom was full the entire flight due to the 7-11 quality breakfast burritos they served on the flight. Hell, if it makes the flight more entertaining and takes my attention off the smelly person sitting next to me I'm all for it. Just make sure you aim that thing away from my vodka tonic. Thanks.

[cjm262001]

I heard on the news last night that they were merely trying to become members of the Mile High Club but that bathroom was full the entire flight due to the 7-11 quality breakfast burritos they served on the flight. Hell, if it makes the flight more entertaining and takes my attention off the smelly person sitting next to me I'm all for it. Just make sure you aim that thing away from my vodka tonic. Thanks.

[susie341]

BOTTOM LINE SOUTHWEST AIRLINE SUCKS AND NEEDS TO GET EMPLOYEES WITHOUT POWER TRIPS.