Nationwide — Three African American women were arrested at Miami International Airport after refusing to pay baggage fees and attempting to board a Frontier Airlines flight. The dispute escalated into trespassing, leading to flight delays and charges after deputies removed them from the plane.
On Sunday night around 9:50 p.m., Nafisa Dockery, 30, Davana Cochran, 26, and Dionjana Cochran, 21, were at Miami International Airport preparing for a flight to Philadelphia. They checked in for a Frontier Airlines flight from Miami to Philadelphia when staff flagged an issue with their luggage.
Airline staff noticed the three had two carry-on bags but had only paid for one. The employee asked them to step aside and pay the extra fee before boarding. Tension rose when staff warned they could be removed from the flight if they refused to comply.
According to Atlanta News First, Dockery told the others, “We don’t have to listen, let’s just go.” The three women then moved past a restricted door marked for authorized personnel only and entered the aircraft despite warnings that law enforcement would be called.
Airport deputies arrived after staff reported the breach. A Frontier manager confirmed the boarding passes were no longer valid and requested that the women be removed. Officers repeated the instructions, but the group refused to leave the plane.
All passengers were deplaned so deputies could handle the situation safely. Authorities said a brief struggle occurred as officers took the women into custody.
Officials also reported that Dockery spat on a Frontier employee while being escorted off the aircraft, according to WPLG. A video shared online showed deputies removing the women from the plane.
The flight was delayed for more than an hour as a result of the incident. The three women now face charges of trespassing after warning and resisting an officer without violence. Dockery also faces an additional battery charge.