Sheesh: United Airlines Employee Fights Passenger

Sheesh: United Airlines Employee Fights Passenger

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What the heck is wrong with people? Yesterday I first wrote about the horrible fight that took place between an airline employee and customer, and I wanted to update the post, as we have some more information about the incident.

United ticket agent & passenger get in fight

Video footage is going viral of a United Airlines ticket agent getting into a physical altercation with a passenger at Newark Airport (EWR). He technically worked for the United Express regional subsidiary, but from a passenger’s perspective that shouldn’t make a difference.

This incident allegedly took place around 11AM on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The video has been viewed over 15 million times since being posted to social media just over a day ago, so odds are that just about everyone is going to be seeing this video shortly.

There are a couple of different clips of what happened. The most viral clip is 45 seconds, and it shows the United employee making the first physical contact. However, there’s a second video that shows the passenger making the first physical contact, so the video seems to start a bit earlier. Regardless of which version you watch, note that this is pretty graphic and bloody, so use your own discretion.

Context really is missing here, as we don’t know how the dispute started, as every version of the video already shows the two actively in a dispute and fighting. We also don’t know for sure who threw the first punch — the clips we have show the passenger throwing the first punch (so I suspect he was first), though we don’t know what happened before the filming started.

For those who (understandably) don’t want to watch these clips, the videos depict both the passenger and United employee provoking one another. The passenger hits the United employee, the United employee hits the passenger, and then the passenger hits the United employee harder, causing him to fall back and hit the floor.

The United agent gets up with a ton of blood on his face, and tries to keep fighting. To the passenger’s credit, at this point he just talks to the United employee and doesn’t hit him again, even though the United employee is clearly asking for it and wants more of a dispute.

Passenger charged with assault, United employee fired

The United employee depicted in the video has allegedly already been terminated, though there’s no update on whether he was seriously injured beyond that (based on the amount of bleeding, hopefully he got medical attention).

The passenger involved in the incident is allegedly Brendan Langley. He’s an ex-NFL star who was drafted to the Denver Broncos in 2017, but he now plays for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League.

A team spokesperson said the following:

“The Calgary Stampeders football club is aware of the reports concerning Brendan Langley. The team is currently looking into the matter in order to learn the full details and will have no further comment until the investigation is complete.”

Langley has been charged with simple assault, and was released on his own recognizance.

There’s enough blame to go around here

We really don’t know who started this confrontation, so based on what we know, we can’t definitively say that the passenger or United employee is more at fault. Based on the videos we do have, it looks like the passenger may have made the first physical contact, but we don’t know. That being said, airline employees are supposed to deescalate situations, and the United employee here most definitely wasn’t doing that.

There’s no doubt that many passengers have been horribly misbehaved during the pandemic, and airline employees have had to put up with a lot. But the United employee here definitely isn’t innocent. He did nothing to walk away from the incident, but rather taunted the passenger, and even hit him. And even when he was knocked to the ground and bloody, he still went back to the passenger and wanted more of a fight.

The passenger obviously isn’t innocent either. It’s not just on the job where it should be common sense that you shouldn’t pick a fight and punch people. He didn’t deescalate the situation either, and should have walked away. Furthermore, as far as we can tell, he probably threw the first punch.

I think there’s enough fault to go around here, but in the case of the United employee, this definitely isn’t the level of professionalism you’d expect from someone at their place of employment. One thing is for sure — this is going to get a lot more publicity than United’s new “Good Leads The Way” ad campaign, and I’m not sure this employee’s behavior reflects good “leading the way.”

Kids, this isn’t what self defense looks like

I see some people in the comments section suggesting that the United employee was simply engaging in self defense, and I wanted to address that. Of course everyone is entitled to defending themselves. If someone comes up to you on the street and tries to beat you up, you’re entitled to fight back if you think that’s the best option to protect yourself.

But if you ask me, self defense should be about, you know, defending yourself. And to me, defending myself would mean minimizing the harm inflicted on me in a bad situation.

If I were the United employee, my goal would be to not be knocked over and be bleeding from my face. The way I’d go about that is by not getting in someone’s face, not repeatedly taunting them to hit you, and not walking back up to them after they’ve beaten you up. I wouldn’t act like I’m in a boxing ring or a video game.

To be clear, I’m not saying this situation is more the fault of the employee than the passenger, but what I am saying is that it didn’t have to go this way. It’s not like the passenger was chasing the United employee. The United employee just kept coming up to him, and not once did he try to walk away (at least as far as we can see).

So for the young people reading this, you’re a much bigger person if you can safely walk away from a situation like this, rather than “defending yourself” in the form of being beaten up in a situation that seems entirely avoidable. To the people in the comments section mentioning that this is just standard self defense, is this really what you teach your kids? “Hey, if someone bullies you or you have a disagreement, just pretend you’re in a boxing ring and keep fighting until someone is knocked out?” C’mon…

Bottom line

A United Airlines employee and a passenger got into a fight at a ticket counter at Newark Airport last Thursday. While we don’t know what the dispute was about or who started it, the behavior on both sides is awful. Airline employees are supposed to deescalate situations, and this United employee sure doesn’t do that, even after he has the daylights knocked out of him. Meanwhile the passenger also shouldn’t ever think it’s okay to get physical with an airline employee.

The United employee has been terminated, while the ex-NFL player involved in the incident was charged with assault (and should be banned from United, in my opinion).

What do you make of this United incident?

(Tip of the hat to Mike)

Conversations (130)
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  1. Betty Fink Guest

    Have passengers sign document agreeing to be totally financially responsible for their poor behavior in this flight.
    An attorney will word this properly.
    Passenger cannot enter plane without signing the document

  2. Bb Guest

    Employee ought to be behind the counter providing customer service.
    The fact that he is in front of the counter is our first clue here. Also, his immediate firing shows that the company policy was likely grossly violated.
    You can’t step into a swarm of bees on purpose and then get sympathy for being bitten

  3. Stanley R Guest

    Ben please give me a break. I'm sure if someone hits you you will not walk away and call the police. If you hit someone you should expect to get hit back. The ticket agent got what he deserved and the airline should get sued.

  4. Ella Guest

    Looool!? The full video shows the agent punching the passenger. He was defending himself.. People need to get it right before taking the time to post such a worthless blog/article

    Kind regards
    The only one with common sense.
    Daniela
    Bye

  5. Fed UP Guest

    Brendan Langley plays for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. hahaha, Idiot. He was suspended by the Stampeders. Once convicted, he will be barred entry to Canada and can get a job flipping burgers at McDonalds.

  6. Don Guest

    Hopefully, there was a CCTV of the incident and not just other cell phone videos. A CCTV would have captured the whole incident, including the possible argument prior to the first strike being thrown. It would help out the investigation to be thorough and one can have a more valid explanation of the "incident."

  7. Karen Guest

    Seems there are different versions of the video. Once they establish who threw the first punch, the other person is defending himself, in my opinion. If I were an agent I would try to deescalate the situation, but once assaulted I would defend myself, probably at the cost of my job. Whoever threw the first punch he is in the wrong no matter what. But, wrong or right once an agent defends themselves they will...

    Seems there are different versions of the video. Once they establish who threw the first punch, the other person is defending himself, in my opinion. If I were an agent I would try to deescalate the situation, but once assaulted I would defend myself, probably at the cost of my job. Whoever threw the first punch he is in the wrong no matter what. But, wrong or right once an agent defends themselves they will be fired. Airline wants no lawsuits , wrong or right. Passengers are becoming more and more violent and airline staff need federal laws to protect them.

  8. stan Guest

    I suggest you simply google search for further videos. Of course, no back story, but the video with the most recorded minutes show the united employee making the 1st physical contact.

    1. ListenToMe Guest

      The video with the most recorded minutes doesn't necessarily start the earliest...

  9. Jess Guest

    I saw in another article that the United employee was actually a “operations specialist” (sounds like someone that does things that helps flights run smoothly). The passenger was using a wheelchair as a means of luggage transportation and the employee had asked him for the wheelchair so he could return it to an area to be used as, ya know, a wheelchair. The other article didn’t say much more than that, so maybe the employee...

    I saw in another article that the United employee was actually a “operations specialist” (sounds like someone that does things that helps flights run smoothly). The passenger was using a wheelchair as a means of luggage transportation and the employee had asked him for the wheelchair so he could return it to an area to be used as, ya know, a wheelchair. The other article didn’t say much more than that, so maybe the employee was rude about it or whatever, I don’t know.

  10. Mark Guest

    Live in Australia seen some fights here - but as police are a visible presence in the terminal - it's only been on the aircraft - between passengers . Strangely it seems to be only on certain carriers .

  11. Al Guest

    This video shows the UA contractor throwing the first punch. Why did the passenger get arrested for defending himself? https://youtu.be/EFyXyvbIGiA

    1. Fed UP Guest

      Because the short video did not show the entire altercation, when little boy Branden threw the first punch.

  12. Lee D. Guest

    Exactly what Mike Tyson said. The longest video out there CLEARLY shows the United Airlines passenger strike the young Black man first! He at that point has every right to defend himself. As the first phase of the fight was slowing down is when the second recorded clips out there start up and shows the UA worker approaching the man again and slapping him yet again! BUT again we see the young black man get...

    Exactly what Mike Tyson said. The longest video out there CLEARLY shows the United Airlines passenger strike the young Black man first! He at that point has every right to defend himself. As the first phase of the fight was slowing down is when the second recorded clips out there start up and shows the UA worker approaching the man again and slapping him yet again! BUT again we see the young black man get arrested even though he was just defending himself. I hope he sues the living daylight out of UA!

    If an aggressor comes at you a second time you obviously need to increase the use of force to pacify the aggressor which this young man did. BUT the aggressor STILL gets back up and comes at him yet again! Think about this...what business did the UA employee have that far out near the customer in the first place but to confront the passenger. Conclusion UA employee strikes black man, black man kicks his ass for doing so in defending himself. Black man gets arrested...go figure!

    1. Jess Guest

      You’re also going off of the only video footage you have access to. The cops have access to security camera footage, so that may be the difference.

    2. Eskimo Guest

      "the United Airlines passenger strike the young Black man first!"

      Wait, he punched himself?

  13. Mike Tyson Guest

    United contractor threw the first slap, and continued to escalate it when the athlete halted. But an athlete is held to a higher standard in the law since they can cause excessive damage to an opponent and have to know better. Much like a professional boxer getting into a scuff with a non-boxer, and then he knocks the guy out.

  14. Zeus Guest

    Why should the passenger get banned from United. You’re already assuming he caused the problem.

  15. Chuck Guest

    This is why everyone needs to start their day with a Snickers.

  16. Jules Mac Guest

    Sometimes the sad reality is you don’t know what you’re capable of until your buttons are pushed. We can blame all we want but this world has become one lacking God.

  17. Steve Diamond

    There are cameras everywhere at airports so the police know 100% how this started.

    1. NYGuy24 Diamond

      Exactly people rushing to judgement based on a video that starts midway through a confrontation. Somehow I think in the end they are both going to come out on the wrong side. The employee for continuing to engage in the altercation and this football player for his behavior. Guy should be on the no fly list.

  18. Peking Duck Guest

    "He’s an ex-NFL star..."
    Um, slight correction: NFL stars don't end up in the CFL a couple of years after getting drafted. Just leave the "star" part out and you'll be fine.

  19. Ben Guest

    wait for the police. for heavens sake -- there are enuf cops at EWR.

  20. John Guest

    As per CNN, the United employee has been terminated. The passenger is a football player from the CFL and has been charged with assault.
    https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/24/sport/canadian-football-league-brendan-langley-brawl-newark-airport/index.html

  21. iamhere Guest

    Absolutely, we don't know what lead up to the incident but both of them were wrong to fight.

  22. TheBestBlackBrent Diamond

    Pax should just not have declined to check-in his carry on!

  23. glenn t Diamond

    This is the bread & butter content of Gary Leff's VFTW !
    Isn't OMAAT a bit above this kind of trash?

    1. david Guest

      Don't read the story if it offends your senses.

  24. Maria P Valdez Guest

    That's not simple assault but more like aggravated assault. It was about an airport owned wheelchair. Brendan Langley wanted to use it to carry his luggage through airport security and on to the gate and that's not allowed. If this ex-NFL player had an sense he would not have gotten arrest, he's lucky that the airline agent when he fell did not hit his head and die. Why can't people just learn to accept a...

    That's not simple assault but more like aggravated assault. It was about an airport owned wheelchair. Brendan Langley wanted to use it to carry his luggage through airport security and on to the gate and that's not allowed. If this ex-NFL player had an sense he would not have gotten arrest, he's lucky that the airline agent when he fell did not hit his head and die. Why can't people just learn to accept a NO...Brendan Langley NO YOU CAN'T USED THE WHEELCHAIR TO CARRY YOUR LUGGAGE THAT'S only FOR HANDICAP PEOPLE.

  25. GUILLERMO ARAGUNDI Guest

    Although this person is in a UNITED UNIFORM, he does NOT work for UNITED AIRLINES directly. He works for a contractor. UNITED AIRLINES employees follow a professional and ethical demeanor and a higher call of duty to safety and respect for passengers and coworkers as well.

    1. MrDebonair Guest

      Right. United beat up a doctor and forcibly removed him some years ago. And pushed an old man down. United is the epitome of professionalism and quality people. Yes, you are. You'd never do those things you've done.

    2. TranceXplant Member

      United didn't beat up a doctor or forcibly remove him. O'Hare airport police did that.

  26. Diane Zurba Guest

    Employee will be fired for sure.

  27. Rex Guest

    Look at the first second of that video, he was basically saying c´mon, so he gave him what he wanted I see no problem with that, I dont care what he said if you challenging someone to a fight while at work you deserv it, he probably tough he would get away with it.

  28. Rex Guest

    That's a very stupid take trying to play the both sides you coward, he hit the guy first while at work, and you claim there's enough blame to go around, and you people wonder why people call your primitive country racist. He was a lot nicer to the guy than I would be, to many a-holes out there who got away with pure violence and aggression until they run in to someone who can fight....

    That's a very stupid take trying to play the both sides you coward, he hit the guy first while at work, and you claim there's enough blame to go around, and you people wonder why people call your primitive country racist. He was a lot nicer to the guy than I would be, to many a-holes out there who got away with pure violence and aggression until they run in to someone who can fight. He should be glad he ran into that nice man who restrained him self instead of someone who would defend them self.

  29. Scoobey Guest

    All of the us airports are horribly understaffed by the airport police
    Forces. This agent should not
    Be fired. The passenger should be banned and it’s shows how unsafe airports are nowadays. Please create a
    Go fund
    Me account for this gate agent

  30. Jill S Guest

    As a retired United ticket, Gate and ramp agent, I’ve been spit at, had bags thrown at me, and almost smacked once but I ducked.
    That isn’t coming close to being called and sometimes even taught as a teen and young adult when I began my career every Nasty name in the book.
    People have gotten worse and worse and more entitled and entitled as the pandemic continues and it’s time for all...

    As a retired United ticket, Gate and ramp agent, I’ve been spit at, had bags thrown at me, and almost smacked once but I ducked.
    That isn’t coming close to being called and sometimes even taught as a teen and young adult when I began my career every Nasty name in the book.
    People have gotten worse and worse and more entitled and entitled as the pandemic continues and it’s time for all airlines to ban together to get a federally known list to ban behaviors like this from flying ever.
    There are many many well behaved irate customers who go on to have a fine experience once they’ve calmed down and accepted that most issue pertaining to airline problems are out of the airline agents hands.
    We are just the people delivering the info. Some agents are excellent some are eh, and some are terrible and should find a different career. But none of us nor our counterparts in the air deserve the kind of disgusting behavior doled out so freely by the flying population.
    I’ve watched my coworkers get smacked and kicked and spit at also. So yah this isn’t ideal that the employee fought back but who knows how many people this week have been nasty tools to him.
    I hope he doesn’t get fired and instead gets the help of the EAP to deescalate his broken Psyche.
    Yo public CUT IT OUT! If you can’t control your animalistic behaviors don’t fly.

  31. JamesYVR Guest

    Frankly, I am not surprised. I have swooned off United years ago because of their ground staff's attitude.

  32. Madge Guest

    Palmolive softens hands while you do dishes.
    You're soaking in it

  33. Jerome Guest

    If you see the entire video, you’ll see the black male (ex-NFL) started the fight. As usual it was edited by the media to look the opposite.

  34. Ruby Wild Guest

    Hmm is it me or will there be a nice juicy law suit filed against the employee and United?

  35. George L. Lyon Jr Guest

    The agent has no concept how to fight.

    1. Bob Guest

      I remember a few years ago there was a fight between a 30 year old man and a much older 70 year old man. Everyone in the comments were attacking the "disgusting" young man. But I saw the full video and it was clear the old man was the problem. But because of how the video was cut i found it likely that the uploader was trying to write a specific narrative. This is the...

      I remember a few years ago there was a fight between a 30 year old man and a much older 70 year old man. Everyone in the comments were attacking the "disgusting" young man. But I saw the full video and it was clear the old man was the problem. But because of how the video was cut i found it likely that the uploader was trying to write a specific narrative. This is the hallmark of how people are made to believe fake news. Guarantee a lot of people who watched that faker cut still believed in the poor old fool. It's our responsibility to scrutinize things and not jump onto the comments. I recognize that I am probably just as guilty at times. But it's time to make an effort to bring logic back to life.

    2. D3kingg Guest

      @George L. Lyon Jr

      Absolutely he didn’t even have the right stance. I’d have KO’d that childish liar fourth string athlete with 2 left jabs and a right hook. Lights out.

  36. Onaldo Guest

    I am reminded of the time about 10 years ago that I used a UA District Sales Manager paper cert to upgrade from Y to C on a UA flight from FCO via IAD to Sea. Upon gate checkin at IAD, the portly male agent got mouthy and accused me of having stolen the upgrade cert and wanted to downgrade my onward flight to Sea. I have seen a lot of rude, mouthy babble from UA gate agents over the years, especially at SFO. I can see how pax lose control, not that it is right.

  37. Susan Guest

    So this is a Calgary Stampeder Brendan Langley, according to Calgary news report. Guess he won't be welcome in the USA anytime soon.

    1. JWags85 Guest

      Except that he's an American citizen who was briefly playing in the CFL

    2. BigG Guest

      He is American former NFL player from Georgia. He can enter the US anytime but if he is convicted then he will not be allowed in Canada to play for the Calgary Stampeders. By the way CFL players are on strike at the moment.

    3. Jaded platinum Guest

      All 2000 people that follow the CFL will be so disappointed....

    4. Jon Guest

      Plays football in Canada after being cut by the Broncos. My guess is he is American. So no, he won’t have issues entering the States.

  38. Duane Guest

    Former Denver Bronco using a wheelchair as a luggage cart.

  39. Kp Guest

    Typical clipped video. Black guy initiated the fight. Threw many blows before the actual video starts.

    Watch the video for yourself.

    https://youtu.be/87wXq4QRFl4

    1. JWags Guest

      Find the actual full video. That video is clipped too. The United employee actual hits the customer upside the head first and incites everything...

      https://twitter.com/tigermelons/status/1528577311943143424?s=20&t=Bz417CgTk0nesm2LgIaVsA

    2. JK Guest

      There's more surfacing... in this "full video", you see the opposite - the employee takes that first swing (within the first 2 seconds) even before the one you referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0ruwmr4ClM

  40. Sad but true Guest

    The only winners here are the lawyers! I see two lawsuits from the Passenger to United and the Employee. Three Lawsuits from the United Employee; wrongful dismissal by United; unsafe work environment by United / Airport; pain and suffering due to the concussion and long term disability now can't work again

  41. Sandagainsthate Guest

    So I can come up and hit you in the face and if you respond with anything but walking away and giving me whatever I want as a reader then you're unprofessional and horrible? You have every right to defend yourself and not just take a hit and kiss ass to a customer that's abusive. I guess you're the Karen that thinks standing up for themselves is now bad because customer is right. There is...

    So I can come up and hit you in the face and if you respond with anything but walking away and giving me whatever I want as a reader then you're unprofessional and horrible? You have every right to defend yourself and not just take a hit and kiss ass to a customer that's abusive. I guess you're the Karen that thinks standing up for themselves is now bad because customer is right. There is no share blame the second a customer hit an employee there is no gloves to deal with the situation so that the customer is happy.

  42. Eskimo Guest

    The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club.

  43. David Guest

    Athletes being what they are and pretty much all they can be will not get the blame. Some fellow with a real job will lose it affecting his family as well.
    Typical American justice 2022.

  44. Trevor Guest

    The "longer" video doesn't show the initial start to the fight (not the situation as a whole).

    The United employee moves from behind the employee area, and steps up to the passenger, and then looks to hit him in the face in a combination of a punch/slap/grab. Then the second "longer" video is where things pick up from, and the two are seen fighting.

  45. Jillian Guest

    This is a lost battle. There is no winner. In the bigger scheme of things.

  46. video Guest

    Hey Lucky - very important. That video posted is not the full video. There's one that shows a few punches being thrown by each party prior to the slap. It may be worth a footnote/update.

  47. Smith Guest

    What ever happened to security? Or police? Isn't this one of the reasons airlines have security or police on the scene? So that way if someone posing a threat could be detained or properly handled with instead of letting bash it out?

    1. Paul Guest

      They don't arrive on scene within a few seconds. Lol. I'm sure someone needs to first call them. Then the officer needs to be dispatched. This doesn't all happen in under a minutes time.

  48. Ann Schultz Guest

    Fing ridiculous! Should stay in jail till his court appearance and hopefully get sentenced to at least 1 year!!!

    1. FTF Guest

      Which one, both or??? A lot of buzz with little info, too many different videos, way too many assumptions and opinions and not enough facts.

  49. skimegheath Gold

    According to the not so reliable Daily Mail Australia, he is an Australian living in Canada. Ex NFL (rugby) player who now plays for Canada stampeder??? No idea if it is true.

    1. skimegheath Gold

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10845321/United-Airlines-worker-PUNCHES-passenger-check-hes-smacked-ground-bleeding.html

    2. skimegheath Gold

      Sorry I misread. Not Australian.

    3. skimegheath Gold

      Sorry I misread. Not Australian.

  50. Jeffrey Chang Guest

    We need to start banning more people from public transportation if they cannot behave themselves. The man should be allowed to travel to his destination (if its not his home) then banned from using air, train, ship, or bus transport.

    Thus problematic persons can either walk back home, hitch hike, or get a rental car.

  51. derek Guest

    The customer deserves 100,000 bonus miles and $5 million. The United Express agent deserves $5 million. The rich should pay for it and give money to the poor.

  52. Donna Diamond

    One thing is for certain, in this age of video surveillance and phone video everywhere, you do not throw a first punch at anyone and expect to get mercy from your employer and/or the police. The gray areas are long gone. In any event, regardless of the precipitating event, or who threw the first punch, the agent will be fired. The passenger’s fate is less clear.

  53. Dr. Dink Guest

    It’s interesting that it is an expectation of an airline employee to “deescalate” a situation, but not a police officer. I’m over it.

  54. Ricky Mo Guest

    It’s been reported it was at EWR, the United “agent” was a contractor, the agent was not arrested but the passenger was.

  55. Mac Guest

    The dude who wrote 'welcome to Trumps america', Biden has been the president for almost two years. Grow a pair and learn accountability.

    1. Django Guest

      But didn't trump supporters(including trump)refer to and thru blame @ his predecessor (Obama) even well into his defeat of a 2nd term??????

  56. Lesli Guest

    Newark New Jersey. Supposedly passenger used an airport wheelchair to carry his luggage to the counter and was confronted by United employee. United Employee should have kept his hands to himself and called security if the passenger was being unruly. He got his butt kicked and will mostly lose his job. Passenger seemed to try to de escalate and walk away..the airline worker is the big Loser here. As a nurse I’ve been kicked slapped...

    Newark New Jersey. Supposedly passenger used an airport wheelchair to carry his luggage to the counter and was confronted by United employee. United Employee should have kept his hands to himself and called security if the passenger was being unruly. He got his butt kicked and will mostly lose his job. Passenger seemed to try to de escalate and walk away..the airline worker is the big Loser here. As a nurse I’ve been kicked slapped spit on and verbally assaulted many times…it’s difficult but you have to walk away.

  57. Jerry Guest

    Now all the armchair quarterbacks will start talking about how this HUMAN employee was supposed to handle this situation according to United Airlines company guidelines.
    That shit gets thrown out the window when someone is wailing on you.
    While we still don’t know what happened prior to the video that shows the passenger swinging at the agent before landing the serious blows…if it started right then, that agent has the right to defend...

    Now all the armchair quarterbacks will start talking about how this HUMAN employee was supposed to handle this situation according to United Airlines company guidelines.
    That shit gets thrown out the window when someone is wailing on you.
    While we still don’t know what happened prior to the video that shows the passenger swinging at the agent before landing the serious blows…if it started right then, that agent has the right to defend himself.

    Looks like He tried but was overmatched though.

    Still though, stop all this nonsense about “deescalation” blah blah blah. None of you know how you’d really react if in the same shoes.

    1. Mh Diamond

      It "sounds like" (yes, this is an assumption, when I'd prefer to know the facts) the agent didn't handle it well to begin with. Of course you don't put luggage on a wheelchair, so fine that it's called out, but it shouldn't go from that to a passenger swinging a punch at you. If it was handled properly. Of course, the passenger can be completely irrational as well e.g on drugs, mental problems, but that shouldn't apply in this case.

  58. Never In Doubt Guest

    “ odds are that just about everyone is going to be seeing this video shortly”

    “…so I’m going to cash in my share of the clicks while I can”

  59. elderberryflowertraveller Guest

    Well, it is America after all.

  60. Nun ya Guest

    I would of did the same thing

  61. Lolo Guest

    We have no idea how this started - so there is not enough blame to go around. If the passenger laid hand on the United employee, then the employee had the right to defend himself - although it looks like he didn’t do well in that area.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Lolo -- I strongly disagree, at least based on what we know, and to me what's depicted in this video represents such toxic masculinity.

      Of course self defense is a thing, and I think it's totally valid if you're in your home and get robbed, for example. But if you're in public, have a dispute, and you're getting in the face of someone who is obviously willing to fight you, that's not the intent...

      @ Lolo -- I strongly disagree, at least based on what we know, and to me what's depicted in this video represents such toxic masculinity.

      Of course self defense is a thing, and I think it's totally valid if you're in your home and get robbed, for example. But if you're in public, have a dispute, and you're getting in the face of someone who is obviously willing to fight you, that's not the intent of self defense (in my opinion), that's just being an idiot.

      This United agent should have stepped back and should have called the cops. I mean, look at what happened when he was knocked to the floor. It's not like the other guy was following him, but rather the United agent got up and tried to go up to him again. That's just plain stupid, in my opinion.

      Self defense shouldn't just be about "well he technically hit me first so now I have a free pass to do whatever I'd like." Self defense should be about defending yourself (minimizing injury), and more often than not that should involve walking away.

    2. Sam Guest

      Adrenaline may say otherwise in the heat of the moment. Clouds even the most clear thinkers mind. Fight or flight is instinctive. Can't rationalize the irrational Ben.
      Theyre both going to have consequences for going full caveman either way blame shifts.

    3. Sel, D. Guest

      Lol @ toxic masculinity. So narrow minded for someone who is otherwise so intelligent. When women do this is it toxic femininity?

    4. Alonzo Diamond

      Exactly. So sick of the word toxic, overused like crazy.

    5. Aaron Guest

      Toxic masculinity is a thing.

      No, when women do it, it isn't toxic femininity, that's something else.

    6. Punishment Guest

      So now self defense is no longer acceptable to do against bad passengers? Alright so if I hit you over an article I don't expect you to do anything but accept it and back down. No you don't get to do anything since after all the customer is right according to you and thus you should just accept getting hit without any physical recourse

  62. Mar V. Guest

    Seems like it was going to be over with the slim guy walking away. Then the big guy slaps the slim guy as he was walking away... then he got knocked out. You don't slap someone without being prepared for the consequences. Big guy lost twice... 1. knocked out 2. going to lose his job (unless this is airline policy).

  63. TS Guest

    I think it’s so important to show people what it’s like traveling now. Even in 2020 and 2021 I was flying often, and I saw so many altercations like these (although usually the airline employees weren’t getting involved like this!). People need to understand how wild it is out there now. People that resort to this need to be permanently banned from flying, and face criminal charges. I’ve seen people spitting on FAs and agents,...

    I think it’s so important to show people what it’s like traveling now. Even in 2020 and 2021 I was flying often, and I saw so many altercations like these (although usually the airline employees weren’t getting involved like this!). People need to understand how wild it is out there now. People that resort to this need to be permanently banned from flying, and face criminal charges. I’ve seen people spitting on FAs and agents, pushing them, slapping phones out of their hands, throwing drinks at them, et cetera.

  64. Free flights Guest

    Bruh if anyone punches me, they getting dropped. It’s called self defense. No need to “just walk away” . He played a stupid game and got a surprise. Then he found the courage to get up and approach the passenger again. No matter what was said prior, if the United airlines employee touched him first then nothing else matters. Free flights for life should be coming

    1. Eskimo Guest

      Bruh, you need a lawyer ASAP. That's not what self defense is.

      And I don't think Dr. David Dao got free flights either. Not that his settlement couldn't afford it for the rest of his life.

    2. ConcordeBoy Diamond

      What you just described isn't self defense, "bruh"

  65. SMR Guest

    Lucky.. remember when you just posted awesome trip reports..never thought you as media back then. Look at you now. No bueno . this does not belong on a travel blog

    1. TS Guest

      It’s the reality of travel right now… this stuff keeps happening, and it won’t stop until we all raise awareness.

      I was at JFK the other day, and a couple was trying to check-in with bags for a flight that was due to depart in 15 minutes. The agent told them they don’t have time to board, especially trying to check bags. The guy called her the C word, and then the female shoved the...

      It’s the reality of travel right now… this stuff keeps happening, and it won’t stop until we all raise awareness.

      I was at JFK the other day, and a couple was trying to check-in with bags for a flight that was due to depart in 15 minutes. The agent told them they don’t have time to board, especially trying to check bags. The guy called her the C word, and then the female shoved the agent down and spat on her, the accused her of being racist and only allowing white people to board the plane (I’m certain that’s no true). It took 3 police to restrain the women and drag her away from the agent, whose clothes were torn and she was brutalized and crying in front of everyone. This behavior needs to stop.

    2. X-CCCP Member

      TS - you are just being a whiny racist.....(Kidding of course). Had it been the other way around (white passengers verbally abusing black cs agent), oh it would have been on CNN, MSNBC, NYTimes, etc....

    3. Scoobey Guest

      Call your congressional representative make it a federal crime to assault an airline employee . Passengers are crazy . Who would
      Want to work in an airport nowadays ??

    4. DJ Guest

      FYI I saw the video last night on twitter. Part of this video is missing at the beginning and is therefore misleading. The original video begins with the two parties yelling at each other. The agent was behind the counter, but comes out to the area where passenger was and the agent hit the passenger. That full video version has been taken down from all platforms.

    5. Chris Guest

      Just don’t read articles that don’t interest you. Problem solved.

    6. snic Guest

      If you've been reading Lucky's blog that long, you also know he's a big fan of Jerry Springer-style trash TV. So of course he's going to post this sort of thing whenever it has an aviation angle.

      Which is fine with me. It's his blog. There are other types of articles he posts that I don't care for, but you'll never see a comment from me complaining that the article was written. I just don't read them. Maybe try that?

  66. Hiro Guest

    This article is miss leading. The longer version video shows the passenger hit first.

  67. Greg Guest

    Gotta be EWR

    Was he a UA employee or contract bag guy

  68. Jason Guest

    If you are going to link the video why not link the longer version with the passenger hitting first?

    1. NC Guest

      The second video is when the passenger hit first. You can see it ends where the first video picks up.

    2. Eskimo Guest

      Both video doesn't show how it started. Can't really tell who throw the first punch.

    3. JWags Guest

      The United employee did....

      https://twitter.com/tigermelons/status/1528577311943143424?s=20&t=Bz417CgTk0nesm2LgIaVsA

  69. KJ Guest

    So why are you showing this video instead of the other, longer one showing a different perspective where the victim card can’t be pulled, since you acknowledge there is the other video.

    1. NC Guest

      What victim card? Both videos are posted if you would look. Don’t try to cause an issue on a fairly neutral article for no reason.

  70. TravelinWilly Diamond

    A couple of dotard camp followers don’t get their way so they resort to physical violence and brutality. They seem to think the airport is s dotard rally site.

    Welcome to Donald Trump’s dystopian America.

    1. T d Guest

      Hahaha what does this have to do with Donald trump?! You people are delusional. You need a hobby my friend.

    2. stogieguy7 Diamond

      Yeah, because such a huge percentage of black people in Newark are Trump "dotards". Which, by the way, is such a stupid sounding attempt at an insult. Dotard? It's as lame as a liberal elitist dinner party.

    3. david Guest

      Haha.....Trump is no longer president. I guess this is Biden's America?

  71. Steve Guest

    Looks like they need to watch those Pan Am videos…lol

  72. Steve M Guest

    Not United Airlines.
    Try Untied.
    Or, Unleashed.
    That agent is toast.

    1. Chalice Guest

      No he’s not- remember he is supported by a union and lawyered up. Did you see the blood pouring down his face?? A disgrace

    2. Fb Guest

      So he should be banned cause a grown ass man slapped him in his face when he should of let him be y’all kill me with that one sided shit he shouldn’t hit that man period

    3. Ed Guest

      This is not even a United employee, but a contract subsidiary employee. You can tell by the uniform differences.

  73. Fs Guest

    Two willing individuals willing to throw hands. This should be a citation / fine. Make it as steep as it needs to be. Not whatever they're going to end up doing to these two. I imagine it will have a moderate impact on their future.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

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Sel, D. Guest

Lol @ toxic masculinity. So narrow minded for someone who is otherwise so intelligent. When women do this is it toxic femininity?

7
Ben Schlappig OMAAT

@ Lolo -- I strongly disagree, at least based on what we know, and to me what's depicted in this video represents such toxic masculinity. Of course self defense is a thing, and I think it's totally valid if you're in your home and get robbed, for example. But if you're in public, have a dispute, and you're getting in the face of someone who is obviously willing to fight you, that's not the intent of self defense (in my opinion), that's just being an idiot. This United agent should have stepped back and should have called the cops. I mean, look at what happened when he was knocked to the floor. It's not like the other guy was following him, but rather the United agent got up and tried to go up to him again. That's just plain stupid, in my opinion. Self defense shouldn't just be about "well he technically hit me first so now I have a free pass to do whatever I'd like." Self defense should be about defending yourself (minimizing injury), and more often than not that should involve walking away.

4
TS Guest

It’s the reality of travel right now… this stuff keeps happening, and it won’t stop until we all raise awareness. I was at JFK the other day, and a couple was trying to check-in with bags for a flight that was due to depart in 15 minutes. The agent told them they don’t have time to board, especially trying to check bags. The guy called her the C word, and then the female shoved the agent down and spat on her, the accused her of being racist and only allowing white people to board the plane (I’m certain that’s no true). It took 3 police to restrain the women and drag her away from the agent, whose clothes were torn and she was brutalized and crying in front of everyone. This behavior needs to stop.

4
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