Her crime? "Smoking" a newly popular electronic, or electric cigarette.
exhibit A: http://electric-
Witnesses report seeing the man thought to be an air marshal, walking over to talk to her after being alerted by a member of the cabin crew.
According to businessman Matt Finian, who was seated 5 rows away, "all of a sudden I heard this shouting behind me. As I turned my head, I heard the guy yell "don't sas me b*tch" and saw him pull this girl right out of her seat, and then just throw her right onto the floor in the aisle. It was terrible. Then he got on her back with his knees and was trying to cuff her, and she was screaming and crying."
Apparently the altercation began when 18 year old Sandra Hickock started to "smoke" an electric cigarette. These new "cigarettes"
We have been unable to get a clear statement from the FAA on whether this is allowable.
Ms.Hickock is currently at Memorial Hospital in stable condition. Efforts are still underway to get a statement on the whereabouts of the alleged air marshal.
Details of the whole event are still quite sparse. Statements from the Air Marshall's office and Spartan Air are due shortly.
