Watch CBS News

Penn State Professor Arrested In Miami After Rant On Plane

MIAMI (AP) — An associate sociology professor at Penn State University faces disorderly conduct charges after being removed from an American Airlines flight.

Officials say 52-year-old Karen Halnon started a rant about U.S-Venezuela relations about half way through a Saturday flight from Nicaragua to Miami.

A passenger on the plane caught the rant on video, which was posted on local television websites. It also showed her lighting a cigarette and blaming it on another passenger. Flight attendants requested that police meet the flight in Miami. Halnon was taken into custody, questioned and arrested on disorderly conduct and breach of peace charges.

Halnon told Miami television stations that she felt compelled to speak up after spending a week of researching in Nicaragua.

Halnon bonded out of jail and returned to Pennsylvania.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.