Main: A Frontier Airlines aircraft is parked at a gate at Philadelphia International Airport. (Matt Patterson via AP). Inset: video footage shows Dulce Huertas standing in the aisle of a flight seconds before she appears to have dropped her pants (screengrab via WPVI).
A Philadelphia woman now faces decades in prison and a hefty fine after pulling her pants down and exposing her genitalia on a Frontier flight after refusing to stay in her seat as instructed by flight attendants.
Federal prosecutors said in court documents that on Nov. 20, 2023, Dulce Huertas was a passenger on a Frontier flight from Orlando to Philadelphia when the incident occurred.
Video of the incident taken by another passenger can be seen here, in which the passenger can be heard yelling, “I don’t give a f—. I gotta go pee.”
Huertas, 60, was arrested and charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, simple assault, and indecent exposure on Jan. 30. If convicted, she faces up to 21 years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $355,000 fine.
According an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Kyle Kapron, flight attendants served Huertas two alcoholic drinks during the flight. As the plane began its descent into Philadelphia International Airport, Huertas got out of her seat, stood up, and announced, “I have to pee.”
A flight attendant instructed Huertas to stay seated, and though the woman initially complied, she began yelling and cursing at that attendant. The affidavit said that after landing and as the plane was taxiing to the gate, Huertas began cursing at nearby passengers. In response, flight attendants called security to assist at the arrival gate and informed the captain of the situation.
The captain then instructed all passengers to remain seated. Before the airplane doors opened, Huertas “resumed her aggressive behavior and pushed passengers out of the way as she moved to the front of the plane.”
As Huertas approached the bathroom at the front of the airplane, flight attendants stopped her as they were disarming the main cabin door.
According to the affidavit, Huertas responded with, “Sorry, everybody,” then pulled down her pants and underwear and squatted as if to urinate in the aisle.
Per the affidavit:
Huertas displayed her anus and genitalia. (Notably, there were children nearby.) Huertas did not urinate, and then stood up and pulled her underwear and pants back up. Huertas then cursed at passengers.
Huertas then demanded that flight attendants let her pass. One flight attendant listed as “S.K.” blocked Huertas from the main external door in an effort to keep the woman from activating the emergency slide. The affidavit said that as she tried to get past S.K., Huertas “used her belly to bump” the flight attendant, and “continued to yell, curse, and threaten to kill multiple passengers.”
Huertas did not contest that there was probable cause for her arrest. With the consent of prosecutors, Huertas was released on $50,000 bail and was ordered to submit to random drug testing and refrain from the excessive use of alcohol while her case proceeds. She must also stay in the Philadelphia area as a condition of her release.
Court documents show that Huertas is not currently employed and is receiving disability benefits.
Law&Crime reached out to Huertas’ public defender for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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