Woman Indicted in Fight With Airliner Crew Over Pet Dog

A federal grand jury has indicted a Beverly Hills woman, accusing her of assaulting and interfering with the flight crew during a cross-country flight in a fracas over a tiny dog named Dom Perignon.

Marcelle Becker, a first-class passenger who is suing American Airlines over her treatment by the crew, was indicted on a single federal count of “interference with the performance of duties of a flight crew member or flight attendant by assault or intimidation.”

If convicted, she could face 20 years in federal prison, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said.

The indictment reflects how seriously airlines and federal authorities are taking the actions of obstreperous and dangerous passengers, people familiar with the case said.

Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, said that in another case, a passenger who tossed a coffeepot at a flight attendant, burning her arms, could receive a life term when he is sentenced next week.

Federal authorities were saying little about Becker’s alleged criminal actions aboard Flight 19, which originated in New York and landed in Los Angeles in July 1995. But a source familiar with the investigation said Becker allegedly was abusive toward the crew and threatened to bring down the plane.

Becker, her attorney and her publicist were unavailable for comment. Her lawsuit against the airline is scheduled for trial in Santa Monica Superior Court in September.

Becker, widow of insurance magnate Howard Becker, contended that the crew refused to let her place her 8-pound Maltese, in its Louis Vuitton carrier, on the seat next to her.

Although Becker had purchased a ticket for Dom Perignon, a flight attendant “shoved” the dog carrier under the seat and kicked it, Becker’s suit states. As the animal yelped, the suit said, Becker cried out, “How dare you hurt my baby!” The dog escaped, and by the time the scuffle ended, Becker alleged, the pilot had tied her up with the leash.

She said Dom Perignon died a few weeks later of injuries and stress suffered during the scuffle.

An attorney for American Airlines said the indictment shows that the woman’s actions posed a serious threat to the other people on board.

“At one point she threatened to open the hatch door and break a window, threatening to crash the aircraft and all on board,” said Jeffrey S. Behar, the airline’s attorney in the civil case.