A passenger on an American Airlines flight faced consequences after clashing with a flight attendant over safety instructions. The incident occurred on a flight from Costa Rica to Dallas, Texas, where the passenger was heard telling the flight attendant to “shut up” during the safety demonstration.
In response, the flight attendant directly questioned the passenger, asking if they wished to disembark the plane due to failure to follow instructions, stating discomfort with non-compliance. The exchange was captured in a viral video showing the flight attendant signaling colleagues to intervene when the passenger claimed difficulty in hearing.
The flight attendant firmly stated that the passenger was not exempt from following rules and threatened to have the pilot remove the passenger for non-compliance. The video, shared on Instagram, highlighted the passenger’s failure to switch off their phone, which ended when the passenger agreed to comply but later alleged harassment by the flight attendant and was subsequently escorted off the plane.
An eyewitness, Jay Crenshaw, who observed the incident, described the situation as the passenger being agitated and distracted during the flight, eventually acknowledging their error. Despite acknowledging the passenger’s behavior, Crenshaw urged understanding and empathy, noting that everyone can have challenging days.
American Airlines has been contacted for comment regarding the incident. According to the Association of Flight Attendants CWA, a US-based union, 85% of cabin crew encountered unruly passengers in 2021, with nearly one in five reporting physical altercations during the same period.
