The American Airlines first-class passenger was denied the drink; following this, he became aggressive and was later arrested by the police officers.
A video lasting about a few minutes has been uploaded on social media. It depicts the removal of an American Airlines first-class passenger from a Boeing 737 aircraft.
Apparently, the man’s request for a pre-departure drink caused a conflict that led to his removal. Flight attendants are typically supposed to serve these drinks in first class, but it’s a contentious issue among passengers.
In the video, an American Airlines agent and a police officer attempt to remove the man from the plane, but he refuses to leave and demands to know what crime he committed. Despite being reminded that the pilot has requested his removal, the man continues to resist and eventually begins recording the altercation.
The situation escalates as the police call for backup, and the man’s phone is taken away. He finally agrees to leave the plane, but only after being handcuffed to the ground. Throughout the incident, the man is heard screaming and crying.
Man forcibly removed from flight after refusing multiple requests to leave from attendants, pilot, and police. All started over being denied a pre-takeoff gin and tonic.
by u/losfathead in PublicFreakout
Expert opinion
The view from wing blogger reported the incident and stated some points to avoid such instances.
To start with, if an airline has decided to remove you from a flight and the police have been called. It is best to comply and leave the aircraft. Refusing to do so will only escalate the situation and cause further problems.
It’s unclear why some people refuse to leave the plane in such situations. Perhaps thinking that their noncompliance might lead to their retention onboard. However, this is not how it works, and one should avoid doubling down in such a scenario.
Moreover, even if the person is innocent, it’s better to get off the plane immediately to minimize the damage in terms of legal and airline-related issues. If they’re truly innocent, they could try to gather contact information from witnesses who could support their case.
Also, it’s irrelevant for the passenger to keep insisting that he didn’t commit a crime because being kicked off a plane doesn’t necessarily require committing a crime, just like being expelled from any private business. It’s disappointing how many people don’t have a basic understanding of the law.
In this case, the passenger violated Federal Aviation Regulations by not complying with the crew member’s instructions. This makes his repeated claims of innocence moot.
Similar Incident
A 33-year-old man from Westminster, identified as Alexander Tung Cuu Le, has been charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants after he was captured on video punching a flight attendant during an American Airlines flight from Cabo San Lucas to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The incident happened on Flight 377l, and the plane was scheduled to land at Los Angeles International Airport. The Department of Justice announced the charges on Thursday.
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