MIAMI – A violent altercation between passengers on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Charlotte, North Carolina, was caught on cellphone video, showing a man in a heated dispute with a 53-year-old woman sitting next to him, airline officials confirmed Friday.
Authorities said the incident occurred Wednesday and ended with the involvement of other passengers and local law enforcement.
The confrontation reportedly began when a man accused the woman of slapping him during an argument mid-flight, according to investigators.
In the video recorded by Arjun Singh, passengers can be heard telling the man to take his hands off the woman, as he shouted, “She slapped me!” while claiming self-defense.
Noon report:
Authorities said several men on the flight jumped in to help the woman, attempting to subdue the man as tensions escalated.
“Allegedly, what happened is that the woman was seated on the aisle side, and then the man stood up,” Singh said. “That’s when several men from other seats ran to subdue him because they thought he was going to hit her.”
The incident occurred on American Airlines Flight 310, which had departed from Miami International Airport and was en route to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to an American Airlines spokesperson.
American Airlines later released a statement confirming the altercation, which you can read here:
“Two customers traveling together were engaged in an altercation aboard American Airlines Flight 310. Local law enforcement responded and escorted the customers from the Charlotte airport. We do not tolerate violence, and we thank our team members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation.”
After landing, authorities said officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department boarded the plane to investigate.
A police report confirmed that the woman involved in the incident had alcohol in her system. The relationship between the man and the woman was not disclosed.
Singh said the situation was resolved quickly, and passengers were able to deplane without further incident. Despite the brief disruption, Singh hopes the viral video serves as a lesson for future passengers.
“I think it’s a reminder to everyone... no matter how bad your day is going, no matter how frustrated you may be, you should never lay your hands on someone,” he said. “And if tensions are high, it’s best to keep them out of public spaces, especially on a plane.”
Police have not disclosed whether any arrests were made.
Read the story in Spanish by clicking here.