Boy, 5, Releases Pepper Spray on Plane

A Miami woman whose 5-year-old son discharged her pepper-spray canister in the cabin of a plane en route from Los Angeles to Honolulu could face federal charges, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday.

Four passengers on the American Airlines flight who suffered minor eye irritation were treated when the plane landed, and another was taken to a hospital for further treatment, said Mitch Barker, an FAA spokesman.

The incident occurred Tuesday night, about 25 minutes before the plane landed. “The pilot declared an emergency because a child released a cartridge of pepper spray in the aft cabin,” Barker said. “Pepper spray is prohibited in the cabin and is classified as a dangerous weapon.” The FAA’s Honolulu office will investigate the incident. Discharging pepper spray on an aircraft carries a penalty of up to $100,000 and the possibility of criminal prosecution, he said.