Aimeé
Tensions are high on airplanes at even the best of times, but right now, even calm moments are at a level ten anxiety. A clip of two people brawling in the aisle of an American Airlines flight traveling from Las Vegas to Charlotte has somehow made traveling during a pandemic even less appealing. The video was posted by CBS host Caryn Ross, who commented, “Nothing like a morning Fight Club as tempers flared on @AmericanAir LAS-CLT flight today…So much for social distancing! #AAFightClub.”
Nothing like a morning Fight Club as tempers flared on @AmericanAir LAS-CLT flight today….So much for social distancing! #AAFightClub @thefatjack pic.twitter.com/NN9lj8enbf
— Caryn Ross (@SuperSassyMama) August 17, 2020
The video was supposedly filmed by Ross’s husband, Jeff Ross, who told CTV News that the fight was over seat assignments and took place while the plane was still on the tarmac in Las Vegas.
The alternate explanation is that the group was fighting over mask-wearing, which is obligatory while aboard an American Airlines flight. Fox News reported that one of the passengers was refusing to cover up, which led to the argument. It appears in the video that everyone involved in the fight is wearing a mask, so it’s a bit confusing.
Both stories agree that one of the women was removed from the plane before the flight continued. Fox received this statement from the airline:
On Monday, a customer on American Airlines Flight 1665 with service from Las Vegas to Charlotte failed to comply with our mandatory face-covering policy after boarding the aircraft prior to departure. In accordance with our policy, the customer was subsequently asked to leave the aircraft and became disruptive, resulting in an altercation with other passengers.
And shared their official policy:
American, like other U.S. airlines, began requiring customers to wear a face-covering while onboard aircraft beginning May 11. We have since strengthened our policy to require face coverings be worn at airports and onboard, 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.
Come prepared with a mask to every flight and possibly prepared to fight, too.
