An unsettling event unfolded aboard a Southwest Airlines flight when an allegedly intoxicated female passenger was forcibly removed from the plane following disruptive behavior, including spitting on other passengers.
A cellphone video capturing the incident has gone viral, accruing over 6.4 million views since it was posted on TikTok on Sunday.
Viral TikTok Footage Captures Disruptive Behavior
In the video, a woman dressed in a blue t-shirt lies on the aisle floor, while another woman in red reprimands her.
“You cannot spit at people! You cannot spit at people!” the woman in red repeatedly exclaims, as per the 13-second video snippet posted by TikTok user “itshaleynothailey.”
The woman in blue responds with an unintelligible retort before forcibly spitting at the admonishing woman. She then attempts to spit at a man seated nearby, but he adeptly blocks the unwelcome assault with his elbow.
Emergency Landing Triggered by Erratic Passenger
The flight attendant intervenes by pushing the disruptive passenger from behind while covering her mouth with a piece of paper. Subsequently, the unruly traveler is pushed forward along the main aisle until she disappears from view.
This erratic behavior led to an emergency landing, as shared by the TikTok user in the video’s caption: “Flight with mental and intoxicated person. Had to emergency land to stay safe! How crazy!!! #southwestairlines.”
Southwest Airlines Yet to Comment on Incident
The details surrounding the incident, including when and where it took place or what provoked it, are yet unknown. Southwest Airlines has not responded to requests for comments on the incident as of Tuesday.
Social Media Reacts to Disturbing Flight Incident
The video, which continues to draw comments expressing disbelief and dismay at the woman’s behavior, is only the latest in a series of disruptions involving inebriated passengers on Southwest flights.
In a recent incident, a disruptive passenger had to be removed from a Southwest flight from New Orleans for kicking the seat in front of her and refusing to leave willingly.
TikTok Users Express Shock and Praise Flight Attendants
TikTok users, commenting on the bizarre incident, were mainly confused by the situation, with many questioning what provoked the altercation.
The two most-liked comments on the video were simple expressions of confusion: “what the hell” and “what the…”
Many users also commended the flight attendants for their handling of the situation. “These flight attendants don’t get paid enough,” wrote one user. Another user agreed, stating: “Give those flight attendants a raise.”
Although the woman being removed from the flight was alleged to be intoxicated, this information has not yet been officially confirmed.
As we continue to see a rise in such disruptive incidents on flights, it’s clear that airlines and their staff are increasingly challenged to maintain safety and order.