New York Daily News: CHARLOTTE, NC – Passengers get into a vicious fight over face mask requirements on an American Airlines flight. (YouTube)
A nasty fight erupted on an American Airlines flight after a passenger reportedly refused to wear a face mask on a flight from Las Vegas to Charlotte, NC.
The altercation, which was caught on video and then widely shared on social media, happened Monday morning, according to the Charlotte Observer.
A spokesperson to the airline later confirmed in a statement that a customer on flight 1665 “failed to comply with our mandatory face covering policy after boarding the aircraft prior to departure,” according to local television station WSOC-TV.
The passenger was then “asked to leave the aircraft and became disruptive, resulting in an altercation with other passengers.”
Twitter user Caryn Ross, who initially posted the video on Twitter, wrote, “Nothing like a morning Fight Club as tempers flared on @AmericanAir LAS-CLT flight today….So much for social distancing.”
The fight involved two women, who can be seen in the video throwing punches and then falling into a row of seats, as fellow passengers in the near-full airplane watch in disbelief.
The airline added that it requested law enforcement to resolve the issue.
“American, like other U.S. airlines, began requiring customers to wear a face covering while on board aircraft beginning May 11,” the company said in a statement.
“We have since strengthened our policy to require face coverings be worn at airports and on board, and announced in June that we may deny future travel for customers who refuse to wear a face covering for the duration of this requirement.”
WSOC-TV reported that the passenger is currently blocked from flying, while the airline investigates the matter.
