Quantcast

American Airlines flight delayed after passenger refuses to leave stolen seat

American Airlines flight delayed after passenger refuses to leave stolen seat
Research
Webp txr36ytg6uuvd13i8xrjnuempd4m
Gary Leff Chief Financial Officer | View from the Wing

An American Airlines passenger flying from Dallas Fort Worth to Los Angeles took another passenger’s bulkhead seat and refused to give it up, arguing that it was his by right due to his U.S. citizenship. Despite requests from flight attendants to move, all passengers were eventually deplaned to remove him peacefully.

The man had been assigned a seat further back in the aircraft. The rightful occupant of the bulkhead seat, identified in a checkered shirt in video footage, naturally expected to sit there. The interloper became agitated and loudly asserted, “I’m a citizen of the United States,” as justification for his actions.

Flight attendants attempted to manage the situation by informing him that his behavior was inappropriate and that he would be removed from the flight if he did not comply. Undeterred, he challenged them to call the police, saying, “Ok. Get the police here. Take me to jail.”

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Police arrived and, to avoid a physical confrontation, removed the man from the plane in a wheelchair. He was not arrested on the spot. The flight was delayed by 45 minutes, and all passengers had to deplane.

For avoidance of doubt, there is no right of citizenship to stake a claim to unoccupied seats on an aircraft—let alone a seat assigned to someone else.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Long Beach Airport has entered into a 30-year lease agreement with JetZero, Inc., a company focused on next-generation aircraft design.

Oct 28, 2025

Passengers planning summer travel for 2026 can now book flights with Lufthansa Group Airlines, which has released its schedule featuring new destinations and increased frequencies.

Oct 28, 2025

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced its Employees of the Month at its LAV facility.

Oct 28, 2025

Flying Food Group's San Francisco facility recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with its employees.

Oct 28, 2025

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of a new route connecting Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa.

Oct 27, 2025

United Airlines has unveiled its Summer 2026 schedule, which includes new flights from Newark to Bari, Split, Santiago de Compostela, and Glasgow, as well as from Newark to Seoul and Washington, D.C., to Reykjavik.

Oct 27, 2025