A United Airlines passenger allegedly knocked out a gate agent after a dispute about a canceled flight and seating arrangements.
According to the Daily Mail, the incident occurred at Dulles National Airport in Virginia on Thursday at around 5:30 PM. The passenger, Christopher Stuart Crittenden, 54, allegedly lost control near gate D12 and reportedly assaulted an airport worker.
The incident was caught on camera, and the video quickly spread across social media. @aviationbrk explains Crittenden, who is a Maryland resident, tried to walk onto the jet bridge at the D12 gate while passengers were de-boarding.
In the short clip, you can see Crittenden approach the gate and an employee blocking his way. The passenger throws a punch without warning within two seconds of being stopped. Crittenden allegedly hits the worker square in the chin, knocking him to the ground.
The United Airlines Passenger May Have Been Drunk
Per a report by Fox 5, Police arrested the passenger shortly after the altercation. Authorities charged him with assault and disorderly conduct. United Airlines escalated the incident and promptly placed Crittenden on their 'no-fly' list. The outlet also explains that he was drunk, according to airport police.
Crittenden was allegedly irate because United Airlines canceled his original flight. He was unhappy with the replacement flight as he was allocated a middle seat.
The gate worker was reportedly 'out cold' for a full minute and went to hospital. He was back at work the following day. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) released a statement following the incident. "Our members deserve a workplace where they can focus on providing excellent customer service—not one where they fear being attacked by passengers. This latest incident is yet another example of the unacceptable rise in violence against front line airline workers, and immediate action is needed to address it."
Airport staff have to deal with unacceptable behavior from customers, even if the incidents don't always end in violence. Earlier this month, a passenger in Chile missed their flight and was so desperate to get on board that they chased the plane onto the runway. He was promptly escorted off the tarmac but still managed to get in front of the airliner. Authorities have not revealed how he got so far unopposed.
