Man banned from flying with United Airlines after violent outburst

By Phan Anh December 1, 2024 | 11:52 pm PT

A United Airlines plane taking off from an airport in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 29, 2024. Photo by AFP

A passenger on a United Airlines flight from Texas to Los Angeles was banned from all future flights of the airline after violently smashing up plastic trays and kicking seats.

A video recorded by a fellow passenger showed a man standing on a plane seat, kicking its back and smashing the tray table on United Airlines flight 502, which was flying from Texas to the Los Angeles international airport (LAX) on Nov. 16. There were 81 passengers and crew members on the plane at the time, the USA Today reported.

The man was eventually restrained by other passengers on the plane, being tied down to the seat with zip ties and seat belt. A witness claimed that the flight attendant walked by the commotion and did nothing, TV station KABC reported.

United Airlines said law enforcement was present at LAX as the flight arrived, and that the passenger in question has been banned from future flights by United Airlines.