An African American man on a Delta Air Lines flight went on a rant about being enslaved by white men, before assaulting a flight attendant and an air marshal on board the Washington – Los Angeles plane on Thursday evening.
After being attacked, the air marshal called for passenger assistance and together got the situation under control – zip-tying the man – as the aircraft diverted to Oklahoma City.
Combative passenger on @Delta flight assaults flight attendant and Air Marshal, according to OKC police. Flight #342 from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles was diverted to Oklahoma City where police arrested the passenger. Story: https://t.co/3u0zKJrOQs pic.twitter.com/RHnZX60z3M
— Eric Resendiz (@abc7eric) December 10, 2021
According to Delta,
Delta applauds the quick action and professionalism of the crew and Federal Air Marshals on Delta flight 324 from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, which diverted to Oklahoma City after a customer became unruly and was removed from the flight by local law enforcement. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.
It’s unclear what caused the incident to escalate from a public discourse on slavery to assault, but as a simple matter that never ends well for the passenger. The incident does underscore, though, how it’s passengers reacting to disruptions to control the situation – a monumental shift after 9/11 – that provides much of the security in the air. The air marshal who happened to be on board sought help, after being assaulted, when the situation was just one man rather than professional terrorists.
How long until a commenter starts babbling about white privileged and racism?
Don’t drink n fly. Problem solved.
Not even an American Airlines or Spirit flight from Florida.
@Gary Since when is a transcontinental commericial airline flight an appropriate venue to have “…a PUBLIC discourse on slavery…”??? Aren’t most folks just trying to get to LA and don’t want to hear ranting or raving regardless of where on the political spectrum it is?
@Scott – no, it is not a good idea to do so, I do not believe I suggested it was..?
Well, since the federal prisoner transfer hub is in OKC, it was a perfect diversion point for this guy…enjoy prison.
What’s interesting is that DHS’s Federal Air Marshals got involved in-flight when facing a “belligerent black/brown male” passenger behaving with FAs in much the same way that has gotten a pass from the same or different FAMs when “belligerent” behavior of much the same sort has been done by American males or females generally perceived to be of European ethnic appearance.
Maybe this photographer passenger would have gotten more of a pass from the FAs and FAMs if he didn’t have a beard and appeared to be Trump spawn.
@Cam — Nowhere above does it say, nor even suggest, that the pax was drunk prior to the events onboard DL342. No, it is *never* a good idea to fly drunk, but one drink does not a drunkard make. The issue is that a) while it is always illegal to serve anyone who is inebriated, few FAs adhere to that; and b) there is no way to control how much alcohol someone consumes before boarding (other than the same restrictions apply to bartenders and servers inside the airport that applies on planes and in cities and towns).
Personally, on US domestic flights, I’d be perfectly happy were airlines to institute a two drink limit. Who on earth needs more? (Maybe a cocktail and second glass of wine in F…if meal service ever returns to pre-Covid levels.). On long-haul international flights, perhaps there is some sort of formula of x drinks sold to a pax for y number of hours?
But as someone who *does* consume alcohol and can count the number of times I have been drunk on one hand with fingers left over…it’s a matter of responsibility, not alcohol in and of itself.
I seriously doubt he is an “African American”.
That phrase is woke nonsense.
He was no doubt a black American. Where his ancestors came from is irrelevant.
@GUWonder – Your point about FAMs letting this kind of behavior go when coming from other pax would be valid if there were FAMs on all of those flights. Most flights are not going to have a FAM on board. There are only about 3000 FAMs.
Those FAMs really dress for success, huh?
GUwonder still a liberal Idiot!!
Watching that guy, he struck me as potentially being mentally ill. Can’t really say why, but I see a lot of mentally ill people and that guy just “looks like it” to me.
The point being: not everyone is a drunk, a jerk or whatever.
About 9-11. Ha! Don’t confuse the facts or obfuscate the truth.
You mentioned “after 9-11.” This had nothing to do with 9-11.
This type of behavior is similar to the riots that American Democratic politicians APPLAUDED in 2020 in the Midwest. Police cars were burned, property was destroyed, and yes even Black store owners were killed
and their properties were stolen and destroyed.
All in the name of “getting mine” and to hell with everybody else.
Do you know what you get when you feed pigeons? You get more pigeons!
Do you know what you get when you pay people money to stay home? Crime rates are up all over the US, and not just in Chicago. Go figure. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Children didn’t obey their parents growing up, then didn’t obey their teachers, then didn’t obey supervisors or others in authority, and then didn’t obey the Police ! And they wonder why all this happen to me? Duh?
Eli J
You need a better source of information. The one you have now lies to you.
Democratic politicians didn’t applaud rioting.
Every single one that I heard said that peaceful protest was both American and Constitutionally protected. And that rioting and looting were illegal and should be treated as such.
“If I had a son….” ~ Barry Soetoro
Did the passenger fly on a Basic Economy fare?
Mental illness in full swing. An every day thing in the airline industry. It is out of control.
He got treated better because he was Brown. It’s also why his little BLM rant has been omitted from news sources. Especially only two weeks after the BLM terrorist attack in Wisconsin.
And he ends up in handcuffs. Ironic, huh?
Why you terminate them on the spot
It’s sad when comments about race, political leanings and the like shows up in the comments. A citizen is ranting, instilling an unsafe situation, and assaults people . A very sad comment on human behavior that appears to be on the increase lately. Thanks to the passengers who assisted in subduing this out of control person and that something more dangerous didn’t occur. It’s too bad that the person didn’t have a history and was banned from flying. All other excuses are childish and nonsensical.
@dee
Unfortunately I don’t think that will ever change… he/she/IT obviously LOVES being a disgusting, hate-filled troll.
There is no excuse for his behavior, and those making excuses for him are wrong to defend his actions.