JetBlue F/A Charged With Cocaine Possession

A JetBlue flight attendant and former sprinter appeared in US federal court on Thursday, six days after authorities say she dropped a bag containing almost 70 pounds (32 kg) of cocaine at Los Angeles Airport, took off her shoes and ran away.

Marsha Reynolds, 31, of New York, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

A US magistrate judge in Brooklyn granted her release on a USD$500,000 bond but put the order on hold until Friday to allow a judge in California, where she would face trial, to weigh in.

Prosecutors also said in court they were searching for an unidentified co-conspirator involved in the case but offered few details.

The JetBlue Airways employee, a college sprinter, was randomly selected for additional security screening on Friday evening at Los Angeles airport's Terminal 4. She had two carry-on bags and a large purse, according to authorities.

A TSA employee told an FBI agent that Reynolds made a phone call and spoke in a foreign language. After she was escorted to a screening area, she dropped her luggage, took off her shoes and sprinted out of the terminal.

The TSA worker did not pursue her in order to secure the luggage, which contained 11 packages of cocaine weighing a total of 68.5 pounds, according to court documents.

Reynolds turned herself in to federal agents on Wednesday at New York's JFK airport. She was apparently able to board a flight from Los Angeles after the incident using her airline identification.

A spokesman for the family told reporters there was "more to the story" and that additional facts would emerge as the case proceeded.

Prosecutors said she has worked for the airline for six years and has been suspended due to the incident.