A United Airlines passenger faced a badly delayed flight from West Palm Beach to Newark, then managed to turn an already frustrating situation into an arrest, a one-year airport trespass warning, and a very awkward phone call with her daughter.
United Passenger Turns Flight Delay Into Airport Arrest After Meltdown In West Palm Beach
A United Airlines passenger at West Palm Beach Airport had a rough evening, to put it mildly.
Her flight to Newark was delayed by nearly seven hours and United agents apparently could not rebook her for two days.
Then she started yelling and cursing at the United employees, arguing with sheriff’s deputies, refusing to leave the airport, and ultimately getting arrested.
There are bad travel days. Then there are travel days you make much worse yourself.
Per View From The Wing, the incident occurred in March after United flight 1395 from West Palm Beach (PBI) to Newark (EWR) suffered a rolling delay of six hours and 48 minutes. The newly released police bodycam footage shows the encounter spiraling over the course of the evening.
A Delayed United Flight Becomes An Airport Meltdown
The woman arrived at the airport around 9:00 pm, long after the original boarding time printed on her boarding pass.
A United employee told police that she approached the counter yelling and cursing.
Deputies repeatedly told her that she was allowed to record them, but warned that her behavior was making it less likely that she would be permitted to fly.
One deputy eventually told her that she needed to “sober up and calm down.” Federal regulations prohibit airlines from knowingly boarding a passenger who appears intoxicated, and airlines also have broad discretion to refuse transportation to passengers who are abusive or disruptive.
Whether alcohol caused her behavior or merely contributed to it, shouting at airline employees and police officers is not an effective irregular-operations strategy.
The deputies actually appeared remarkably patient. They offered to help her arrange an Uber, taxi, or ride from her son. She complained that she had no money and asked who was going to pay.
She demanded an airport representative, although at one point she referred to the airport authority as the “Department of Air Force.”
She also threatened lawsuits and announced that her brother was a “big-time attorney” in New Jersey.
An officer dryly suggested that perhaps her lawyer could come pick her up.
It went downhill from there.
Airport personnel ultimately issued her a formal trespass warning barring her from the airport for one year.
That should have ended the matter. Instead, she continued arguing.
While being escorted toward the exit, she called a Black deputy “Uncle Tom” and continued insulting the officers. Eventually, after yet another argument about whether she was trespassing, deputies arrested her.
Police say she resisted being handcuffed and attempted to kick an officer. When she later complained of wrist pain, fire and rescue personnel examined her and cleared her. She was charged with trespassing, resisting without violence, and resisting with violence.
Prosecutors later dropped the felony resisting-with-violence charge. She entered a pretrial agreement on the remaining charges that required a $250 donation to Palm Beach County Victim Services.
The Phone Call To Her Daughter…
About an hour after the arrest, her phone rang.
It was her daughter asking whether she had made the flight.
Her response?
“No, it got canceled. I had a problem with my leg…the nurse is here.”
Technically, there was someone attending to her.
It just happened to be because she had been arrested. She apparently neglected to mention the handcuffs, trespass warning, sheriff’s deputies, or impending trip to jail.
I actually found that part more funny than offensive. I can understand not wanting to tell your daughter, “No, sweetheart, Mommy did not make the flight because Mommy got herself arrested at the airport.”
There are probably better times for that conversation.
Airline Delays Are Frustrating. This Is Not How You Handle Them.
I have plenty of sympathy for passengers caught in rolling delays. A flight that keeps slipping later and later is particularly frustrating because you never quite know whether to wait at the airport, leave, eat, sleep, or make alternate plans.
And being told that the next available flight is two days away would aggravate almost anyone. But none of that gives you license to abuse airline employees or police officers. The delay is not their fault!
The woman herself ultimately offered perhaps the most accurate summary of the evening:
“Am I mouthy? Yes, I am mouthy. That’s part of my personality.”
But being “mouthy” at an airport can have consequences if you don’t know where to draw the line…
CONCLUSION
A United passenger suffered a major delay and the passenger was understandably frustrated.
Everything after that was largely self-inflicted.
Airline delays can be infuriating, especially when rebooking options are terrible, but screaming at employees, antagonizing police, refusing to leave after receiving a trespass warning, and resisting arrest will never improve your travel situation.
At least she had an explanation ready for her daughter.
“The nurse is here.”
That may be my favorite line from an airport meltdown all year.
image: Palm Beach Airport Police bodycam
Per View From The Wing, the incident occurred in March after United flight 1395 from West Palm Beach (PBI) to Newark (EWR)
It’s “DJT” now
In 8 days on August 18th it becomes DJT, so Matthew is correct, still PBI.
And this is why women shouldn’t fly without an escort and muzzle.
West Palm Beach. What a shock. A member of the cult, no doubt.
Florida Woman says to Florida Man “Hold my beer”.