An unsettling event recently took place on American Airlines Flight 2506, which was bound for Philadelphia from Tampa International Airport. A passenger, known for his disruptive behavior, was detained after creating a ruckus onboard, and videos of the incident quickly spread across social media platforms.
The disorderly passenger, spotted in a blue and white striped shirt, hurled derogatory remarks at both the flight crew and his fellow passengers. He accused others of conspiring against him as he was ushered off the aircraft.
“He was accusing everyone of forming an alliance against him,” a co-passenger reported.
One particular dispute escalated further when the troublesome passenger accused another passenger, a man in a blue pullover, of physical contact. Footage from the scene shows the pair pushing each other before the man in the pullover manages to put the disruptive passenger in a headlock.
A woman, identifying herself as a police officer, approached the duo amidst the chaos. The man restraining the unruly passenger also claimed to be a law enforcement officer. With the support of another passenger, the two managed to escort the belligerent man towards the airplane’s exit.
As per the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Tampa International Airport Police Department confirmed the arrest of a man outside the plane around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The charges included disorderly intoxication and two counts of battery.
American Airlines, in a statement to the press, said, “Law enforcement was called to the plane due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer.”
The flight was delayed due to the kerfuffle.
“We thank our team for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” added American Airlines.