The days of flying the friendly skies seem to have long vanished, as reports of belligerent and unhinged behavior in the cramped environment of an aircraft cabin have become so commonplace as to almost escape notice.
United Airlines recently added an unusual mid-air altercation to its retinue of unruly passengers, when a young woman who refused to calm down had to be restrained, and then was caught on video attacking a flight attendant with her teeth. The incident forced the plane to the ground before it reached its destination.
The video shows the passenger, restrained with zip-ties in the midst of a mid-flight meltdown, diving face-first at a flight attendant and ripping away part of their uniform.
The incident too place aboard United Flight 762 outbound from Miami International Airport in Florida and destined for Newark, New Jersey. However the in-flight disruption prompted the flight crew to divert to Orlando, Florida for an early landing.
The passenger, according to United, became disruptive and aggressive, forcing the cabin crew to restrain her. The action increased her pique and she resorted to the only weapon she had to hand: her face.
Another passenger aboard the flight pulled out their phone and began recording as the confrontation between the instigator and the cabin crew escalated. Someone watching the incident play out can be heard saying of the unruly passenger “She’s wilding!” The video was shared to the public by TMZ. The unruly passenger’s name has not yet been released.
Another video of the incident shows the zip-tied disruptor standing in the aisle, and suggesting that United Airlines—and especially the people they employ—were the real problem. She begged people who she knew would watch the video online: “Don’t come to United Airlines.” She said they don’t do their jobs properly, they had an attitude problem, and they were handcuffing her to punish her for her dissatisfaction.
In a statement to TMZ, United said that it was force to restrain the unruly passenger to guarantee the safety of others.
