Frontier Airlines investigates bribery claims by Navy veteran

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Nov 16, 2024

A member of the US Navy has accused two gate agents at Frontier Airlines of extortion, claiming they demanded a bribe for him to board his flight. Demonta Roach shared his experience with WSB, a local ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. The incident occurred on Veterans Day at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when Roach was returning to his military base in Los Angeles.

Roach reported that after arriving late to the gate due to a delayed flight, he was confronted by two gate agents who closed the door to the jetbridge and demanded $50 to let him board. He stated that one agent told him, "I don’t care who you report to. If you want to get back on this plane, you have to pay me."

The initial demand was reportedly $100 but was reduced as a so-called military discount. The woman allegedly said, “I don't give a damn what you're in, as long as you have my damn money.” Roach recorded the encounter, during which he claimed staffers asked for payment via Cash App and threatened him with being left behind if he didn't comply.

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In the recording, one of the agents allegedly mentioned using the money for personal expenses like marijuana and manicures. Roach managed to board after pretending to transfer money electronically.

Frontier Airlines responded with a statement: “We take claims like this seriously, and our team is in the process of investigating the situation to determine what happened. In the meantime, we have offered the customer a voucher for $150 as a customer service gesture.”

The airline's reputation has been under scrutiny after being named America's worst airline last year due to numerous complaints. Frontier Airlines received 33 complaints per 100,000 passengers, significantly more than Spirit Airlines.