Unfriendly Sky: Rowdy Sisters Force Jet To Land

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Twin sisters who said they were flying to a modeling contest in China were charged with federal felonies Friday after witnesses said they consumed too many drinks too quickly, swore at each other, used the aircraft restroom to smoke and attacked crew members. United Airlines Flight 857 from San Francisco to Shanghai had to divert to Anchorage on Thursday, where passengers and crew spent the night. Federal prosecutors said identical twins Cynthia and Crystal Mikula, 22, of Buckley, Mich., hit and spit on members of the crew as flight attendants tried to calm the pair. FBI Special Agent Michael Thoreson said the twins did not appear intoxicated before boarding. They were said to have consumed several drinks and began arguing near a restroom. Passengers reported smelling cigarette smoke in the restroom. Then, the agent said, Cynthia Mikula told her sister, "I've gotta get out of here. Let me off this airplane, I gotta smoke." The crew tried to intervene. The women were charged with interfering with the performance of a flight crew. They were arraigned and held pending hearings Wednesday. The flight, carrying 233 passengers and 22 crew members, continued to Shanghai on Friday night.