Fight on JetBlue: 2 Women Go At It With Razor, Pepper Spray

A fight on a taxiing JetBlue flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday led to criminal charges against two women while several other passengers sought medical treatment after being slashed by a razor or exposed to pepper spray.

Jean Ballentine, 61, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon, authorities told Newsday. Mary Cannady, 52, of Linden, New Jersey, was issued a citation for unlawful possession of tear gas.

Ballentine was trying to leave her window seat as Flight 960 neared its gate and reportedly climbed over Cannady, who was in the middle seat, said authorities. Cannady "pushed" Ballentine back, leading to Ballentine punching Cannady in the face.

At that point a male passenger attempted to intervene. Ballentine reportedly took out an eyebrow razor and slashed his right arm. said NJ Advance Media.

Cannady then pulled a can of pepper spray from her pocketbook and doused Ballentine. Six other passengers were exposed to the pepper spray and later sought medical treatment.

Authorities said all the injuries appeared to be minor.

The JetBlue flight from Kingston, Jamaica, had 179 passengers and six crew members on board. The passengers were detained in the customs baggage area and interviewed by Port Authority police.

There was no explanation of how the two women were able to get on the flight with an eyebrow razor and pepper spray, said the New York Post. Security screenings in Kingston are handled by the Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority, according to a JetBlue statement.

"I would definitely question the protocols in Kingston, Jamaica, that allowed these items on the plane," a police source told the Post.

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