NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — United States Attorney Kenneth Polite announced a guilty plea and fine in connection with a commercial airliner that was diverted to New Orleans due to a disruptive passenger.
According to a statement from Polite’s office, the incident happened on November 25, 2015. A 33-year-old woman named Kate Lohan of Boca Raton was taking a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles. Lohan is Lindsay Lohan’s stepmom, though reports say she and Lohan’s father, Michael have been estranged since before the plane incident happened.
Prosecutors say Lohan became disruptive prior to takeoff when a flight attendant told her to put her seat in the upright position. They say Lohan continued to be disruptive during the flight and at one point threw a cell phone at one of the flight attendants.
The plane was diverted to New Orleans.
After pleading guilty to an assault charge, a judge ordered Lohan to pay a $7,212 fine and serve one year of probation. She was also ordered to continue substance abuse treatment.
The fine covers the cost of landing the plane, fuel charges, flight delays and other issues associated with the unscheduled stop in New Orleans.
