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A mother accused of striking her children on a flight from San Francisco to Denver told an FBI agent that she was upset because her kids, ages 2 and 4, were fighting over a window shade and had spilled her drink, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.

Tamera Jo Freeman, 38, is due to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing. She is being held in federal custody on suspicion of assault and interfering with the Frontier Airlines flight crew.

On Monday, the plane landed at Denver International Airport and police removed Freeman and her children, a 2-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl.

Freeman appeared intoxicated and violent toward the children prior to boarding the plane in San Francisco, according to the affidavit filed by FBI Agent Scott Eicher.

Passengers complained, and flight attendant Amy Fleming approached Freeman regarding her actions.

“Freeman became verbally abusive toward Fleming, demanding that Fleming mind her own business and provide her another alcoholic beverage,” the affidavit says. “When denied further alcohol, Freeman threw a drink on the ground at Fleming.”

Freeman told the agent that she did not throw the drink at Fleming, the affidavit says.

The flight attendant took a defensive stance, managed to talk Freeman back into her seat and asked a corrections officer who was on board to watch over her.

Passengers told the FBI agent that Freeman was hitting her children on the shoulders and legs.

Authorities said the children were placed with a family member who lives in California.

Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.