An American Airlines passenger was put in a headlock and escorted off the plane in a chaotic scene after he hurled an antisemitic slur at a flight attendant, according to wild footage and a report.
The pandemonium onboard American Airlines flight 2506, destined for Philadelphia, broke out before the plane even took off from Tampa International Airport Tuesday afternoon.
The unruly passenger, wearing a blue and white striped button-down shirt, lobbed insults at staff and passengers before accusing other flyers of “teaming up” on him as he was directed off the aircraft, video posted to social media shows.
In one instance, he called another flight attendant who was dealing with him a “k–e,” according to another clip posted online.
“I’m trying to get to my home country and you all people made it harder for me to get to my home country,” he shouted.
He then got in the face of another man in the aisle who wore a blue pullover and also encouraged him to get off.
The confrontation escalated when the unruly passenger accused the other flyer in blue of touching him, separate footage shows.
The pair started pushing each other before the man in blue put the rabble-rouser in a headlock, according to the video.
“Now put your hands down and don’t touch anybody,” the man screamed as he kept his counterpart in the headlock.
“I’m a police officer,” said a woman in a backward hat as she approached the duo, leading the man in blue to reply, “So am I.”
“Turn around and walk,” the man in blue told the disruptive passenger as he continued to restrain his arms.
The woman in the hat and another flyer, who had a sleeve tattoo, then helped escort the unruly man to the plane’s exit, according to the footage.
The Tampa International Airport Police Department told the Philadelphia Inquirer a man was arrested outside the plane around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and charged with disorderly intoxication and two counts of battery.
American Airlines told the newspaper on Thursday that law enforcement was called to the plane because of “a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer.”
The flight was delayed due to the brouhaha.
“We thank our team for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” American Airlines reportedly said.
