It’s not uncommon to see people removed from flights for poor behavior. However, here’s an interesting twist on that, as it seemed not all employees at the airline were on the same page about removing a traveler.
In this post:
An interesting United passenger issue at Fort Myers Airport
NYDETECTIVE has police body cam footage from an incident that happened on June 30, 2025, onboard a departing United Airlines flight at Fort Myers’ Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). The reason I find this interaction noteworthy isn’t because someone was removed from the flight, but because we actually get to hear how the crew deliberates about this situation.
Police were called to a United flight, after receiving reports of an intoxicated passenger onboard who was causing a disturbance. As the police arrived at the plane, one of the flight attendants explained that the crew (including the captain) wanted the passenger seated in 24F off the aircraft.
The flight attendant claimed that the woman was stumbling and couldn’t walk straight down the aisle, that she was slurring her words, and that she gave her attitude when she asked if everything was okay.
While the initial interaction was happening, one of the gate agents was at the passenger’s seat, and she soon returned to the forward galley. That’s where it gets interesting — the gate agent seemingly came out in full defense of the passenger, asking the flight attendant if she’s sure that the passenger was under the influence of something.
The gate agent explained that she didn’t see her stumble on, didn’t smell alcohol, and claimed that the woman seemed perfectly fine to her. She was basically surprised that the crew wanted her off. The flight attendant almost seemed to take offense to that, based on the look on her face as she was told that.
Nonetheless, the woman was told she had to get off the aircraft. The captain was the one who had to tell her, and he was super hesitant to do that, seemingly.
The woman tried to refuse getting off the plane, since she felt it was unjustified, so it was a bit of a process. Eventually she agreed to get off the plane (or else all other passengers would’ve had to deplane, before she could physically be forced off).
She got a bit confrontational in the jet bridge, and then… peed a little bit in the jet bridge, through her pants, while being placed in handcuffs.
It’s rare to see the discussion among employees!
I obviously wasn’t there to see how the woman acted when she initially boarded the aircraft, so I can’t say with certainty whether she did or didn’t appear intoxicated, or under the influence of something.
The reason I find this to be so noteworthy is because the one gate agent was basically shocked to hear this woman was being removed. It makes you wonder whether the passenger’s behavior was really that outrageous, or if the two people just rubbed one another the wrong way.
I could certainly envision how the flight attendant involved in this might not necessarily be the best at deescalation, and might not have the nicest greeting at the door, based on her vibe. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the passenger was in some way out of line, based on how she later acted. Though I also wonder if this would’ve played out this way if it had been another flight attendant “greeting” passengers at the door.
As of May 2025 (shortly before this incident), United implemented a new policy regarding removing intoxicated passengers from flights. It’s referred to as the “huddle process,” and here’s how United describes it internally:
“After boarding, if two flight attendants independently observe a customer exhibiting red light behavior(s) the Inflight team will call a mandatory huddle between Inflight, Flight Ops and Airport Operations to facilitate customer removal from the aircraft. This new huddle process is designed to handle situations where red light behaviors may not have been visible during boarding and a customer that appears to be intoxicated makes their way onto an aircraft.”
What constitutes “red light behavior?” This includes things like moving in slow motion, needing time to respond, being glassy-eyed, losing train of thought, irrational statements, spilling drinks, walking awkwardly, stumbling or falling, being unable to sit upright, slurred speech, and smelling like alcohol.
It does seem like the male flight attendant standing in the background briefly chimed in at some point to say the passenger couldn’t walk straight, but otherwise, this does very much seem to be a situation between the passenger and the one flight attendant.
Bottom line
A United Airlines flight attendant noticed a woman stumbling onto the plane, and wanted her removed, after a brief interaction. When police showed up, the gate agent shared a different take, explaining that she thought the woman seemed totally fine.
Admittedly we don’t usually get to hear these interactions (it’s only possible thanks to police body cam footage, in this case). That being said, I find it interesting to actually hear the gate agent sort of challenge the flight attendant, and claim that she thought the passenger was okay.
I’m not sure to what extent the woman’s removal was warranted in the first place, but the way she interacted with officers was definitely a bit combative, and didn’t show her in a great light.
What do you make of this interaction and removal?
I saw the whole thing yesterday and that woman was drunk. The gate agent was only upset because she had missed it and thought it would make her look bad.
Airport bars over serve far too many flyer's.
Police body cam footage is available to the public in most states. The ones that don't provide it are not being transparent.
Why is this dashcam footage just uploaded for public entertainment like this? Aren't there a lot of privacy issues, like the pilot not wanting everyone to know he wasn't dressed properly when the polce asked to speak to him?
Someone had to do a freedom of information request (aka Sunshine Law or similar). In Florida, you basically can get any body-worn camera of any arrest or police interaction provided a report or incident number (which if you call the police, there is number assigned). It's as easy as filling out one or two forms, online from another state even. Get the incident number by describing it (like another passenger could say person removed by...
Someone had to do a freedom of information request (aka Sunshine Law or similar). In Florida, you basically can get any body-worn camera of any arrest or police interaction provided a report or incident number (which if you call the police, there is number assigned). It's as easy as filling out one or two forms, online from another state even. Get the incident number by describing it (like another passenger could say person removed by law enforcement from UA flight whatever on whatever date) and submit to the police department and you'll get a digital copy. They redact personal info like names, SSN, date of birth, phone numbers, etc. Some states blur faces of those not directly involved. Almost all blur minors.
It varies state by state but Florida is by far one of the most open and easiest to get footage (or any public document... I mean you can easily get just about any government employee's emails). Big time use of body worn cameras, or more so the rapid expansion of their use, and the ability of just about any member of the public to see the footage to "keep their police accountable" came after the 2014 events in Ferguson, MO, and the Black Lives Matter movement. All in the name of transparency... and it means everything is transparent.
It doesn't have to be alcohol.
It could have also been pills or other substances which is why she didn't smell like booze.
All gate agents seem to care about is hectoring people about the number of carry-ons. They routinely fail to flag drunk passengers and pass the problem to crew members.
I think that's mildly unfair as they are not interacting with most passengers other than scanning a boarding pass and most of the time lately you scan your own. One of 150 people in a crowd moving past able to follow closely in line and not speaking to them.... that's kind of a challenge unless someone is really over the top.
The only crime here was the captain using a clip-on tie. That is conduct that is grounds for arrest.
It can be for safety reasons.
It's the reason that I wore a clip on tie while working around the baggage belt...I didn't want to get strangled.
One of the United ground crew made the key comment: "if we can't control you on the ground, we won't be able to control you in the air" (rough quote/paraphrase).
This lady is outraged, yes - fine - but she's clearly being difficult and this is a potential hazard during the flight (to her and others).
and yet there is no legal standard that you have to become a lapdog when you board a flight.
You simply have to follow crew directions.
Intoxication is a reason why that might not be possible but, let's be clear, that there are far too many crews esp. in the US that look for reasons to throw people off of planes and passengers that escalate what should be a routine "it is your...
and yet there is no legal standard that you have to become a lapdog when you board a flight.
You simply have to follow crew directions.
Intoxication is a reason why that might not be possible but, let's be clear, that there are far too many crews esp. in the US that look for reasons to throw people off of planes and passengers that escalate what should be a routine "it is your responsibility to prove that I am unfit to fly and your assertions will never fly in court."
Many years ago I was on a flight, it was maybe 1/3 full and near the end of boarding this lady was stumbling down the aisle and a GA attendant was watching her and said to the FA we have to take her off the plane.
Despite her not causing any trouble, and she didn't fight being asked to get off the plane since she was probably pretty wasted, you can't let someone like...
Many years ago I was on a flight, it was maybe 1/3 full and near the end of boarding this lady was stumbling down the aisle and a GA attendant was watching her and said to the FA we have to take her off the plane.
Despite her not causing any trouble, and she didn't fight being asked to get off the plane since she was probably pretty wasted, you can't let someone like that on board because in an emergency she could not get off the plane by herself. Just a danger to herself and other passengers on board.
Bottom line, stop drinking before flying. Get wasted at home. If you are too afraid to fly, then drive or don't travel.
There is no doubt in my mind, that the crew were fully justified in taking the necessary precautions, to ensure the safety of all on board the aircraft. All passengers should be grateful for the successful conclusion to what could have been a potentially dangerous situation.
KTNBOTP
you gotta love the captain deciding to get dressed as he faces the police body cam.
would be interested to know if she was given voluntarily or by her own request a breathalyzer test.
I think many people would volunteer for one if truly not intoxicated (or maybe even if they are). Though as some recent legal cases have shown, the results are irrelevant as far as the airline goes. They can still ban you even if it came up 0.00 as you were a "disruption."