Air crew duct tape unruly passenger

An airline crew had to restrain a woman with duct tape after she began harassing flight attendants and other passengers.

Maria Esther Castillo, 45, was on a United Airlines flight from Puerto Rico to the United States when she is said to have struck a flight attendant on the buttocks and repeatedly pulled the hair of a blind passenger seated near her.

The flight crew originally tried to restrain her with ankle cuffs but when these repeatedly slipped off, they were forced to use duct tape.

US authorities said Castillo calmed down when the plane was forced to divert to another airport to unload her but became disruptive again when authorities tried to remove her.

The FBI said Castillo had been seen drinking at an airport bar and on the flight before her behaviour became unruly and flight attendants refused to serve her.

She has been charged with resisting arrest and interfering with the operations of a flight crew.