Penn State professor arrested in Miami after rant on plane


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Penn State University associate sociology professor says she doesn't know why her onboard speech about U.S.-Venezuela relations got her pulled off a flight in Miami.

Authorities say Karen Halnon is facing disorderly conduct and breach of peace charges for going on a rant and lighting a cigarette during a flight from Nicaragua to Miami on Saturday.

A passenger caught the rant on video. It shows Halnon lighting a cigarette and blaming it on another passenger. Flight attendants requested that police meet the flight in Miami, where Halnon was taken into custody.

Halnon lives outside Philadelphia. She says in a lengthy email sent after her return home that she was mistreated. She says all she did was speak out against U.S. treatment of Venezuela.

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