Czech model detained in Denver after cat-on-plane flap
DENVER - An international model who caused a pilot to divert a transatlantic flight to Denver International Airport now sits in an immigration detention facility in Aurora -- all because she got separated from her cat.
The flight from Las Vegas to Frankfurt, Germany, landed unexpectedly at DIA on Friday, reports CBS Denver. Fighter jets were called from Buckley Air Force Base to escort the plane. The other passengers finally departed for Frankfurt after waiting approximately 24 hours in Denver.
No federal charges will be filed for interference with a flight crew, but immigration authorities are holding Zaneta Hucikova, 34, for being in the U.S. without a valid visa.
Hucikova is an international model from the Czech Republic and was one of 250 on board the Condor Airlines flight. She reportedly demanded access to her so called "comfort cat" that she had taken on board.
The Grand in Biscayne Bay Miami is place where my sweet pet Victoria got born 4 years ago:) we love it here:)))
Posted by Zaneta Hucikova on Monday, June 22, 2015
"I heard she got a cat with her on the plane and the plane crew didn't know she was going to take a cat with her on the plane," passenger Fritz Peterson said.
The plane was diverted to Denver with an escort from two F-16s after a flight attendant was reportedly struck by the screaming woman. A passenger took cellphone video as the model was escorted off the plane.
"I think this woman was (mentally) ill -- not silly, but crazy reaction because (mentally) ill," passenger Inge Mueller said.
Video and pictures of Hucikova are displayed on the Internet. Information about her indicates she has participated in numerous beauty contests and modeling shoots. But for passengers stuck in Colorado for a day she was trouble.
"She was a little bit crazy," another passenger said.
Nothing like having an emergency landing in #Denver on a 12hr flt to #Europe BC of crazy ladies punching stewardess😳 pic.twitter.com/Uex0b8tgD5
— Dashenka Giraldo (@DashIsabella) August 29, 2015
Hucikova was detained in Colorado for overstaying a visitor's visa and ordered to appear in court. One online posting said she called Las Vegas her home.
The cat remains in federal custody.