Three women are facing criminal charges after officials said they refused to pay for extra carry-on bags, sparking their arrest and a nearly hour-long flight delay at the Miami International Airport.
Nafisa Dockery, 30, Dionjana Cochran, 21, and Davana Cochran, 26, were escorted off aFrontier Airlinesplane and arrested on Monday, March 30, an arrest warrant shows.
All three woman are charged with trespassing on property after a warning and resisting an officer without violence. Dockery was also charged with battery, after authorities said she allegedly spit on someone during the incident.
According to the affidavit obtained by USA TODAY, the women were boarding a flight to Philadelphia when a Frontier employee noticed they had only paid for one carry-on piece of luggage, but had two with them.
When the employee asked the trio to step aside and pay for their extra bag, a verbal confrontation began, the affidavit continues, and the employee told the women if they did not pay for their bags, they would not be permitted to board.
The trio then proceeded past a restricted door without authorization, the affidavit shows, and boarded the plane.
Law enforcement arrived, boarded the plane and escorted all three women off. At some point as they walked off the plane, Dockery allegedly spit on a woman, officials reported.
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A Frontier spokesperson deferred all questions to Miami-Dade police.
JetBlue raises bag fees:See how much you'll pay.
Women who refused to pay for extra bags on Frontier flight plead not guilty
Authorities arrested all three women and transported the trio to the Miami-Dade county jail.
Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office records showed Dionjana Cochran and Davana Cochran remained jailed on Wednesday, April 1, being held on $4,000 and $2,000 bonds, respectively. Dockery was not listed as an inmate.
Court documents show the women pleaded not guilty to the charges this week.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, who records show were appointed to represent all three women.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:3 women arrested after Frontier flight delay over bag fees
