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ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Twin 22-year-old sisters got into a screaming argument aboard a United Airlines flight to China and then scuffled with crew members who intervened, prompting the pilot to divert the jet to Anchorage, authorities say.
Cynthia and Crystal Mikuta of Buckley, Mich., were arrested by airport security and FBI agents after the Boeing 747 with 255 people aboard touched down Thursday. The identical twins face charges of interfering with flight crew members.
The women began arguing about four hours after the plane left San Francisco, said Phillip Reid, the FBI agent in charge in Alaska.
A flight attendant tried to calm the sisters, and Cynthia Mikuta hit her in the face, Reid said.
One of the pilots walked to the rear of the aircraft and told the sisters to return to their seats, then sat with them to ensure there would be no more trouble, but Cynthia Mikuta hit the pilot in the head, Reid said.
When the flight crew put Cynthia Mikuta in flexible handcuffs, Crystal Mikuta put another flight attendant in a chokehold, Reid said.
Reid said the sisters screamed obscenities during the entire episode.
The sisters were in custody, awaiting an appearance before a federal magistrate Friday.
"United Airlines takes the issue of air rage very seriously," airline spokeswoman Whitney Staley said.
The flight was to resume Friday evening after crew members completed a mandatory rest. Passengers were put up in a hotel Thursday night and took a glacier tour Friday.
