Possible Largest Airport Brawl Ever Erupts At Atlanta’s Spirit Airlines Gates—Police Arrive After Everyone Flees

A brawl broke out Friday near Spirit Airlines gates in Atlanta. This wasn’t just a fight, it was a collective terminal velocity of fists. Dozens of travelers engaged in a melee, throwing punches and kicks in the crowded gate area. Parents can be seen frantically pulling their children away from the violence as the terminal filled with screams and commotion.

This incident, eligible perhaps for Guinness Book inclusion as largest recorded brawl at Atlanta’s airport, wasn’t sparked for any identifiable reason. It continued until everyone had fled the scene before law enforcement could arrive. Atlanta police reported that by the time officers reached the terminal, there were no suspects or victims present to provide information.

What’s striking though is how long it took for police to arrive. There are more cameras inside airports than almost anywhere else, and more law enforcement agencies at major international airports as well. That includes DEA, FBI, TSA, CBP, and local police – to name just a few. But then it was near a Spirit Airlines gate so maybe just didn’t stand out as that unusual? (“Spirit Airlines: We have kick-ass prices to your destination.”)

Airport officials have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the incident but hasn’t acknowledged or apologized for the slow response that may hinder consequences despite video evidence.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. I’m black. This is ridiculous and embarrassing. I’m not here to have self hate but we need to do better. At least stop living up to stereo types would be a good start.

  2. For all your racist ass comments…if this is done in the confines of a hockey game it’s awesome right?

  3. @Michael Mainello — Just admit it, you don’t like black people–it’s animus. We can ‘do the dance,’ exchange some fancy language, ‘subjective’-this, ‘objective’-that, but it’s not that complicated. I wish you and others did not hold such hate for ‘others’–maybe some day you can work on your biases. Or not. Either way, stereotyping his harmful–same goes for the anti-trans comments on the prior post.

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