After going insane and beating American Airlines gate workers at Miami International Airport on Friday night, a military veteran in crisis was apprehended by officers from the Miami Dade Police Department and later hospitalized.
As customers and employees looked on, video footage showed the unmasked vet screaming profanities at airline staff after being refused boarding. In an apparent attempt to elicit a reaction, the man snatched up and flung barriers in a rage.
Airport security is a joke. #BecauseMiami pic.twitter.com/Hy1kHezTVq
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 28, 2021
As the man continues to threaten staff, onlookers can be heard asking where the cops are. The Miami Police Department later stated that police reacted immediately to the incident after receiving a call for assistance from airport personnel.
“This encounter involves a service veteran in crisis,” according to the tweet. “Our Airport District officers responded swiftly to the airport staff’s request and brought him to a local hospital for care and evaluation. The MDPD is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors.”
Sara Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), tweeted before it was known that the guy was evidently suffering from a mental health crisis: “This one checks all the boxes.” Now is the time for criminal prosecution!”
Nelson was responding to the fact that, despite the fact that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) receives approximately 4,000 allegations of disorderly passenger behavior, the vast majority of them go unpunished. Since the beginning of the year, the FAA has imposed over $1 million in civil penalties on rowdy passengers, but the agency continues to encourage law enforcement to file criminal charges against more rule-breakers.
Another angle of last night’s @iflymia shit show #BecauseMiami @MiamiDadePD @tsa pic.twitter.com/8PnNZFfl63
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 28, 2021
After the incident, an American Airlines spokeswoman stated, “When traveling with us, we expect all customers to respect our policies, and we will not accept aggression of any type toward our team members.”
“We appreciate our MIA team’s prompt action and professionalism in ensuring the safety of our customers and other team members.”
