On March 13, 2025, Christopher Crittenden tried to board a United Airlines flight at Washington Dulles airport’s gate D12 – after being informed his flight was delayed.
The gate agent — after offering an apology — refused entry. Crittenden burst into expletives, approached the agent while the inbound aircraft was deplaning, and swung a punch, knocking him unconscious and causing head and shoulder contusions. The agent required follow‑up dental care. Crittenden then attempted a second punch, which another agent avoided.
Security footage and video posted to social media captured the knockout blow.
Crittenden was arrested that evening. United Airlines banned him. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia he was intoxicated.
On July 10, Crittenden pleaded guilty in federal court to one felony, admitting punching the agent, rendering him unconscious, and attempting to strike another. He’ll face sentencing on October 9, 2025. While prosecutors recommend the low end of sentencing guidelines as part of the plea, he still faces up to ten years behind bars.
People who wear baseball caps indoors and as everyday wear are scum.
shame on him, he is a retired firefighter captain
About time. Why do people think its okay to assault agents? We’re just trying to do our jobs.
Over the years I had things thrown at me, fists raised at me, I was grabbed so hard it left bruises, and tons of other minor abuses. Back then, we were expected to ignore it. The customer had all the rights.
That’s the big reason I, at 52 years old, went back to the ramp. No drama, no abuse, I just did my job and went home.
@Walter Barry — Ah, yes, the attire, not the assault, is the REAL problem here. Good one, as always…
I don’t need a long sentence here. So long as “the guy in the White House who loves to pardon those who shouldn’t be pardoned” doesn’t pardon the jerk, the felony conviction has all sorts of “fun” side effects. No gun ownership, loss of vote, banned from entering a number of countries. If they add a few years of no-fly listing, all the better. Plus, I’d like to see him sentenced to a long sentence, with some or all suspended on the condition he doesn’t reoffend.
You just ruined your life with that one punch, dumbass…….just like the Will Smith Slap.
@This comes to mind — Good point; if I were his lawyer, I’d be throwin’ on that ‘red’ hat for him, beggin’ for that pardon. You know, because our laws mean next to nothing anymore. It’s like the ‘born-agains,’ who abuse the idea of salvation, citing ‘so long as you believe,’ 3:16, etc., then they proceed to commit horrible sins, thinking all will be ‘well’ in the end. Yeah, we gotta seek justice in this life, because there’s probably not be a next one to take care of things…
Another reason to shut down all drinking at the airport. Yes, some will come already intoxicated, but the number of these incidents will go down.
Another report said that his original flight had been canceled and a second flight he could have taken was full so he was booked on a third flight. Inappropriate response after frustrating circumstances. I wonder if he was lied to since lying to passengers is common in the airline industry.
@jns — I recall you and a few others here are ‘prohibition’-leaning, yet that’s not really the solution. Folks have to take responsibility for themselves. Your second comment exemplifies that well; we’ve all had frustrating delays and cancellations over the years. How we handle it is on us. Back-up plans, insurance, ‘rolling with the punches’ (too soon?) I’ve said before, I keep spare points in case I need to make last-minute arrangements with an alternative carrier, or cancel that backup, get reissued, etc. It’s healthy to prepare for worse cases, still hope for the best.
I’m with Linda here. The only reason no one ever grabbed me or tried to punch me at the gate is that I’m built like a linebacker. Other than that, I’ve had people spit at me, throw things, blow snot at me, etc. I don’t miss that part of my airline career.
@Linda @Greggb57 — Y’all deserve ‘hazard’ pay, seriously.
Where are all the puzzle solvers today? Interesting there is not a comment about race.
@Walter Barry you are ignorant. Nothing wrong with hats indoors.
@Lisa Johnson — Walter is one of our ‘resident bigots.’ Thankfully, Gary allows for actual discourse here, for better and worse. So, there’s bound to be some unsavory ideas exchanged in the process (occasionally, outright animus, which is not ‘great’). It’s still better than censorship (or a lack of comments, like those shills over at TPG who disabled them years back.) Good luck out there!
@1990 – this is why I used to wear a breakaway lanyard – when I was working @ ORD gates, I got pulled across the counter a few times from irate/angry customers by my lanyard.
I still don’t understand how all these airlines keep airports staffed – outsourced vendors pay SO little, don’t really get any good flight benefits, and get yelled at. all. day. long. At least back in the 90s and early 2000s when it was all mainline-online employees, we had the perks of working directly for the airline and enjoying those flight benef, err privileges.
@haolenate — Gosh. Glad you made it out (alive).
It would be easy to suggest it’s only the aviation industry that’s seen this degradation over time, but it’s really widespread, systemic, many industries, at least in the USA.
While not perfect, the Canadians, Australians, Kiwis, and Europeans seem to at least understand that universal healthcare is a right, not a dagger to be held over workers heads. Oh, and that other social safety net programs, like paid-leave, pensions, etc., are actually good for the society as a whole, you know, bottom-up, not top-down.
Just wait, the brigade of billionaire-bootlickers will soon be here to trash my position… in 3, 2, 1…
Of course, we can assume that -“So long as “the guy in the White House who loves to pardon those who shouldn’t be pardoned”- is a reference to every president over the past 50-plus years. Or are you suggesting this practice is unique to the current resident?
Another maga assaulting people.
Mike P, you would be quite incorrect to make that assumption.
Many undeserved and “oddly” motivated pardons have been issued in the past but the volume and types of crimes, the lucrative, undeserved, blatant and corrupt self serving pardons recently issued are in a completely different league. Even a myopic supporter could see it. JMO.
If the guy is actually sentenced to prison this situation and the penalty should be clearly and widely publicized at all airports (e.g. large posters near gates and airline check in counters).
@Adrian — Oh, overt and blatant, not even thinly-veiled… not cool, sir.
Agree with Walter Barry. Because you see those maggot hats being worn a lot.