Although it may seem like poor passenger behavior is confined to the United States and budget carriers in the United Kingdom, a violent incident in Brazil reminds us that poor behavior knows no borders and flight delays speak the common language of frustration.
Passenger Uses Pole To Attack Airline Agent After Flight Diversion, Delays
The incident took place at São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) on Monday. A GOL Airlines flight took off for Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF) in Belo Horizonte/Confins but had to return due to poor weather enroute.
Back in Guarulhos, passengers became fed up they were not being re-accomodated quickly enough and some took matters into their own hands. In video shared on Passenger Shaming, a passenger is seen picking up a pole (stanchion) used to form a barrier system and brandishing it at the airport gate agents.
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He slams the counter, puts it down, but then picks it up again, slams the counter again, this time shattering a plexiglass barrier, then smashes it again, breaking the base of the stanchion.
A woman, perhaps a companion, pulls him aside, but then proceeds to scream at the GOL agent herself.
The video ends before a resolution is found or airport police are dispatched.
GOL played down any disruption:
GOL informs that, after take-off, flight G3 1324 (Guarulhos – Confins) had to return to Guarulhos Airport, due to adverse weather conditions in Confins. The Company emphasizes that it offered the necessary support to all customers and accommodated passengers to continue their journey on flights scheduled for this Tuesday.
That certainly does not appear to be the case, not that it justifies the man going crazy with a deadly object.
This is the second time we’ve seen an irate passenger use a pole to threaten an airline agent. Previously, a disgruntled passenger in Miami used a pole to threaten American Airlines staff.
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Not only does this man need some serious anger management training, but a huge fine and some prison time as well (I hear the prisons in Brazil are lovely…). No matter how bad the delay is, such behavior is never acceptable.
CONCLUSION
A riot broke out after a flight delay in Sao Paulo, Brazil. One passenger reacted so poorly he took a pole and used it to swing at the airline agent, causing substantial damage. Welcome to travel in 2021…
(H/T: View From The Wing)
Maybe he’s a native English speaker and didn’t realize that the phrase “Tudo Legal” is actually a false friend…
But seriously… Belo Horizonte is fun, I don’t blame that guy. He managed to actually find a Hilton property for 10K points, and his friends were probably waiting for him at the bar with a cold Antarctica. MESS STUFF UP, BRO!
“Although it may seem like poor passenger behavior is confined to the United States and budget carriers in the United Kingdom”
You live in an English-speaking bubble, that’s for sure
Florida man needs to step aside for Brazil man.
Hot-headed morons – typical. The only reaction is yelling, screaming and violence.
Human garbage seems to be on the rise, it used to happen only in bus stations but they have moved up.