Children Saw Them Making ‘Up-and-Down Movements’ on a JetBlue Flight. Now They’re Charged With the Unthinkable By Nicole Acosta 46

A Connecticut couple was arrested after authorities allege they performed sex acts in front of children during a flight.

Trista L. Reilly, 43, and Christopher D. Arnold, 42, were each charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, according to probable cause affidavits obtained by PEOPLE. 

The alleged incident occurred as the Danbury, Ct., couple were on board a JetBlue flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Florida on July 19, the affidavits state.

At around 10:30 a.m. that day, a flight attendant was approached by a mother who claimed she and her two children saw Reilly and Arnold “performing sexual activity” amid the flight, according to the affidavits.

“After he was informed of the acts, the flight attendant walked to Ms. Reilly’s seating area and witnessed her making up and down movements with her head while she was facedown on Mr. Arnold’s lap,” the affidavits allege.

The affidavits further allege the two children saw Reilly “performing Oral sex and jerking off Mr. Arnold.”

When the flight landed in Sarasota about an hour later, the couple were arrested by airport police, per the affidavits.

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According to Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office inmate records, the couple was released from custody on their own recognizance on July 21. Reilly and Arnold are scheduled to appear in court for their arraignment on Aug. 15. It’s unclear whether they have hired attorneys to speak on their behalf.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on July 23, JetBlue said, “This behavior is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by JetBlue.”

“Immediately upon receiving the report, our crew members acted swiftly to engage JetBlue’s security team and law enforcement. We are fully cooperating with the investigation and these customers are no longer welcome to fly JetBlue,” the statement ends.