Flight attendant jumps from 17th floor of Alabama hotel, authorities say

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Massachusetts-born flight attendant was killed Saturday night when she jumped from the 17th-floor balcony of an Alabama hotel.

Katherine Robin Fiorentino, 33, of Rehoboth, was staying at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel when other guests notified security around 11:21 p.m. that a woman was acting erratically and had thrown her cellphone over the balcony railing, AL.com reported.

Security personnel went to the balcony and were talking to the woman, later identified as Fiorentino, when she ran toward the balcony and jumped over, the news site said.

Fiorentino, who landed on the roof of the second-floor lounge, was pronounced dead at 11:49 p.m., authorities said.

A Facebook profile belonging to Fiorentino identifies her as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, as does her obituary. At the time of her death, she was living in Orlando.

As a flight attendant, “she cherished helping people, especially calming children that were nervous about flying,” her obituary said.

“She loved camping, hiking, canoe camping and volunteering for the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, where she would use her caring talents by calming uneasy children,” the obituary said. “Katherine was very artistic and liked to do puzzles, jigsaws and crosswords. She treasured spending time with her cat ‘Kismet.‘”

Fiorentino is survived by her parents, her brother, two aunts and an uncle.

In lieu of flowers, her family requested donations to the Nemours Children’s Hospital, via mail at 6900 Tavistock Lakes Blvd., Suite 350, Orlando, Fla., 32827, or directly at nemours.org.

No additional information has been released by Alabama officials. The investigation into Fiorentino’s death is ongoing.

If you or someone you know is suicidal and needs help, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call 800-273-8255. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Cox Media Group