JetBlue passengers accused of having sex in front of children on flight banned from airline — but have charges dropped

The Connecticut couple who made headlines for engaging in lewd behavior on a JetBlue flight and were subsequently banned from the airline have had their criminal charges dropped. Trista Reilly and Christopher Arnold, who were accused of performing sex acts in front of children on the flight, saw their charges of lewd and lascivious conduct dismissed by the Sarasota state attorney’s office due to a jurisdictional question.

The incident occurred on JetBlue Flight 163 from New York to Florida on July 19, when a mother traveling with her kids allegedly caught Reilly in a compromising position with Arnold. The mother alerted the flight crew, who put an end to the inappropriate behavior. The minors on board corroborated what they had witnessed, leading to the arrest of Reilly and Arnold on sex crime charges.

Despite being released from jail on their own recognizance, the case hit a roadblock as prosecutors grappled with the issue of jurisdiction. Ultimately, the charges were dropped as the incident took place outside of Florida, leaving it uncertain if the couple would face charges elsewhere.

JetBlue took swift action following the incident, banning the couple from flying with the airline again. The airline condemned their behavior as completely unacceptable and cooperated with the investigation. Reilly and Arnold’s actions not only resulted in legal consequences but also led to a lifetime ban from JetBlue flights.

In a separate incident, Arnold had previously faced charges of disorderly conduct and assault in Danbury. The couple’s mid-air escapade may have come to a legal end, but the repercussions of their actions continue to linger.