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VosIzNeias:Orange County, NY - Orange County, NY - A Kiryas Joel resident has filed a complaint with the Port Authority Police in Newark, New Jersey, claiming that she was knocked out and robbed by a fellow passenger, who offered her a spiked drink and then took her jewelry.
The woman, a Mrs. L., claims that on Thursday June 3rd, on a Continental Airlines flight from Israel to Newark, the drink rendered her unconscious for the second half of the flight.
Mrs. L. told authorities that she was returning from attending a wedding in Israel on Continental Airlines flight #085 to Newark, seated in seat 16E. In 16F to her left was a woman.
Mrs. L. stated that the woman passenger was not at all friendly during most of the flight. Only after Mrs. L removed a sandwich from her purse did the woman passenger noticed her Swarovski jewelry and other jewelry items in her bag.
After striking up a conversation, the woman showed Mrs. L. images of Swarovski jewelry on her laptop. The woman then asked Mrs. L. if she would like a drink.
Mrs. L. refused more than once. The woman finally left her seat, returning with a Diet Coke. Mrs. L. refused again but finally she took the drink, immediately detecting a “very bad taste.” “I was knocked out for over an hour, I woke up because I felt like I was choking,” said Mrs. L. “Before landing, a steward, Isaac, even asked me to give him the name of my doctor who gave me such a good sleeping pill.”
Mrs. L. left the plane in a hurry because her husband was waiting to drive her upstate to pickup their handicapped child.
The woman passenger said goodbye and asked Mrs. L whether she had a car at the airport and whether she should drive in her groggy condition.
“It was very late on Thursday, so Friday afternoon I asked my kids to bring me the pocket book and noticed that the entire bag of jewelry was missing,” said Mrs. L., “and I started putting one and one together with the woman passenger next to me.”
Mrs. L. immediately contacted Continental to file a complaint. Continental has yet to return the call.
This afternoon, Mrs. L. went down to Newark to file a complaint with the Port Authority Police. They advised her that the case might be passed on to the FBI for investigation.
“I have been on the phone with Mrs. L. most of the day trying to get all the information to law enforcement in New Jersey and hope that the FBI will lead the investigation. There could be other victims out there who have not reported the crime,” said community activist Isaac Abraham. “I’m amazed at the non-response of Continental Airlines’ customer service to the victim and others who have called.
The Jewish community has posted a number for other victims to call and file complaints: 718-STANDUP (782-6387). Please make sure to have all information handy, including airline, flight and seat numbers, boarding pass, date and time of travel.
