Penn State professor arrested in Miami after rant on plane

Author: Associated Press
Published:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A Penn State University associate sociology professor says she doesn’t know why her onboard speech about U.S.-Venezuela relations got her pulled off a flight in Miami.

Authorities say 52-year-old Karen Halnon, who lives outside Philadelphia, is facing disorderly conduct and breach of peace charges for going on a rant and lighting a cigarette during a flight from Nicaragua to Miami on Saturday.

A passenger caught the rant on video. It shows Halnon lighting a cigarette and blaming it on another passenger. Flight attendants requested that police meet the flight in Miami, where Halnon was taken into custody.

In a lengthy email she sent after her return to Pennsylvania, Halnon alleged she was mistreated. She says all she did was speak out against U.S. treatment of Venezuela.

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