Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Art Curator Allegedly Bit Woman On Flight After 5 Hard Days On Yacht
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 23, 2016
Modified Feb 24, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 23, 2016
Modified Feb 24, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[UPDATE BELOW] A tiara-wearing art curator was charged with assault after a flight from Istanbul to JFK allegedly got a little feral. Stacy Engman, an "ultra-eccentric curator and fashionista," is named in a bizarre federal summons that accuses her of biting a woman in her row after a dispute over space.
The incident happened last July but only came to light yesterday when the summons was publicly filed. Engman's alleged victim, Christina Tyler, says that Engman was wearing a tiara during the flight and that her diadem was almost touching her when she reclined across the empty seat between them.
After a disagreement over spatial relations, Engman, 38, allegedly lifted up the armrest next to Tyler and slammed it down repeatedly on her leg. According to the criminal complaint, Engman was telling everyone within earshot that she had just spent five days on a yacht. It's unclear from the criminal complaint whether she received the appropriate measure of compassion from her fellow passengers.
As their conflict escalated, Engman allegedly called Tyler "ugly," ordered her to "move her fat ass," and repeatedly declared, "Fuck you." When Tyler tried to ignore Engman by turning her back on her, she says Engman bit her on her lower back. But after she summoned the flight attendant to tell her what happened, Engman allegedly pretended to be asleep and could not be awoken. Look, have you ever been stuck on a yacht for five days? Everyone gets a little bitey after the first few nights.
Tyler, mercifully, got bumped up to first class, and when the flight arrived at JFK, Engman was taken into custody and issued a summons for assault. Her unfortunate row-mate was evaluated by the FDNY at the airport and did not require further medical attention, since Engman's alleged bite did not break the skin.
To be fair, Engman had just spent five days aboard a yacht.
UPDATE: In an interview with W, Engman denies biting Tyler and seems confused about the whole thing.
Tagged
air travel
flying
stacy engman
yachting
yachts
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneider Mejia are wanted on several charges, including attempted murder.
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 11:05 a.m. ET
NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year
A rainy fall will intensify autumn foliage colors, making them last longer, too.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year
A rainy fall will intensify autumn foliage colors, making them last longer, too.
By
Rosemary Misdary
NY officials worry migrants will skip healthcare amid fed policy change
By
Caroline Lewis
Early Addition: Spy magazine is doing a Substack pop-up
By
James Ramsay
Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony push, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .