Local News

Charge dismissed against woman who forced American Airlines emergency landing at RDU

The dismissal of Miles' charge does not preclude further action by the appropriate federal agencies, RDU said. In a statement, the FBI Charlotte Field Office said no further charges were expected unless additional evidence comes to light.
Posted 2023-02-24T19:25:15+00:00 - Updated 2023-02-25T00:00:26+00:00
Charge dismissed against woman who forced emergency landing at RDU

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Police Department has dismissed a charge against a woman who caused a flight from Jacksonville, Florida, to Washington, D.C., to land earlier this week at RDU.

Tiffany Miles had initially faced a misdemeanor charge of airport obstruction.

“After continued investigation regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident and review of eyewitness statements, plus in-depth consultation with the Wake County District Attorney, RDU law enforcement have dismissed the [charge],” RDU wrote.

The dismissal of Miles’ charge does not preclude further action by the appropriate federal agencies, RDU said. In a statement, the FBI Charlotte Field Office said no further charges were expected unless additional evidence comes to light.

“I am relieved,” Miles said of the charge dismissal.

Miles said she does not regret her actions.

"I know I didn't do anything wrong, so it's the same reaction," Miles said.

Miles said she received a call Friday from Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Police Chief Anthony Midgett about the charge getting dropped.

"I guess I have to speak with my legal team to see how we're going to handle this ... because if no one is charging me now, then what is all the hoopla about?" Miles said.

Miles said she didn't receive word on whether she would be able to fly in or out of RDU in the future. Initially, she was banned from RDU when she was still facing her misdemeanor charge.

"I didn't even ask because that's not a concern of mine," she said.

"I'm really not worried about that because that's not any place that I would normally fly out of anyway," Miles said. "I never have any reason to go to [RDU], even for a layover."

Miles said her concern now was getting her mother's $1,000 back, which she used to post bond to get released from the Wake County Detention Center.

On Friday, Miles said she has not spoken to anyone with American Airlines since her charge got dropped.

Miles said she thinks the flight attendant should get reprimanded and should undergo training. However, she said she thinks the flight attendant should not lose her job.

Before and during the flight, Miles said she tried to order alcohol despite a flight attendant telling her drink service was not offered on the flight.

Miles said she flies often, but she has anxiety.

After the encounter with the flight attendant, Miles says she got up and was walking towards the bathroom, which is in the direction of the cockpit.

Near the cockpit, Miles said two flight attendants stopped her and a passenger stepped in to calm her down. Miles said she was allowed to go back to her seat.

Then, Miles said she asked the flight attendant to call the police because the attendants were being rude to her.

The flight crew used zip ties and sat her in the back of the plane until the aircraft landed safely at RDU. American Airlines employees radioed air traffic control to report that Miles was attempting to breach the cockpit of flight 3444.

RDU said its law enforcement received TSA notification on Wednesday of an attempted hijacking on board the flight.

"Due to the elevated nature of the call and information received at the time, law enforcement placed passenger Tiffany Miles in custody and initially charged her with a misdemeanor," RDU wrote.

Credits