A 46-year-old woman, Kristy L. Crampton, was arrested at a Florida airport on Memorial Day for allegedly beating a child after the boy called her “fat” and said she “could not fit in her seat” during a flight.
Incident Details and Charges
The incident happened on a flight from Orlando-Sanford International Airport to Maryland. Before takeoff, Crampton and several others were removed from the plane after causing a disturbance. Police were called, and Crampton was charged with cruelty toward a child by abuse without great bodily harm.
What Happened on the Plane
According to police reports, Crampton said the boy had been rude during their trip to Disney and continued the behavior on the plane. She took his phone away after he called her names like “Miss Piggy.” The boy got angry and pushed her arm off the armrest twice, which led Crampton to smack him.
The boy told police he was upset about losing his phone and said he called Crampton “fat” and pushed her arm because she was taking up too much space. That’s when she hit him in the face.
Witness Accounts
Two witnesses described seeing Crampton hitting the boy with her fist and a water bottle. One witness said she slammed the boy’s head into the airplane window. The witness described the woman’s actions as abuse rather than discipline.
The other witness confirmed the boy was calling Crampton “fat” and saying she couldn’t fit in her seat for about two minutes. The woman responded by hitting him on the head with a water bottle and slamming his head into the window.
Legal Outcome
Police concluded that Crampton’s behavior went beyond normal discipline and involved multiple strikes to the boy’s head. Crampton appeared in court and was granted a $10,000 bond. After posting bond, she is not allowed to contact the child.
Authorities have not revealed the relationship between Crampton and the child.