An Alaska state senator caused a disturbance on an Alaska Airlines flight, including throwing a glass of water when flight attendants refused to serve her alcohol, but will not be charged with a crime, authorities said.
Sen. Lesil McGuire also continued using her BlackBerry after being asked to turn it off before the flight from Juneau to Anchorage, according to an Anchorage police report of the Sept. 4 confrontation.
According to the report, McGuire continued texting, leading the pilot to stop the plane as it was taxiing. McGuire, who leads the State Affairs Committee, was questioned by police at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport but not charged.
The flight crew didn’t want to pursue charges, and none will be filed, airport police said. The airline declined to explain the decision.
The Anchorage Republican did not return a message left Wednesday by The Associated Press. Her attorney, Mike Corey, told the Anchorage Daily News that the airport police report presents a skewed view.
Witnesses told police McGuire was rude, used profanity, bad-mouthed the pilots and caused further delay by getting out of her seat. In a written statement to airport police, McGuire said that she cooperated with the flight crew and that the water was spilled accidentally.
McGuire said that she was texting about her flight delay to someone picking her up in Anchorage and that she cooperated when asked to turn off her BlackBerry.
According to the police report, obtained by the Daily News, a flight attendant said crew members chose to not serve McGuire alcohol because they decided she would be escorted off the plane once it landed.
McGuire served three terms in the state House before being elected to the Senate in 2006. She is married to former Rep. Tom Anderson, an Anchorage Republican who is serving a federal prison term on corruption charges.
McGuire was not implicated during her husband’s trial last year.