A violent altercation between two passengers erupted on a Spirit Airlines flight after it landed at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, leaving witnesses stunned and a flight attendant attempting to intervene.
On Tuesday evening, a Spirit Airlines flight from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Boston, Massachusetts ended in chaos as two passengers engaged in a physical altercation on the runway after the plane touched down at Logan International Airport.
Witness Nicole Grome, who was on the flight with her parents, described the incident as unfolding right in front of them. "We were right there. I could have touched his arm," she said.
The viral video of the incident shows the two men throwing vicious punches at each other in the aisle as a flight attendant desperately tries to shield them with her arms. "Stop, stop, stop," the flight attendant is heard repeatedly yelling.
Passengers on the flight reported that the unidentified men had been shouting for much of the two-hour flight from South Carolina, but the altercation did not escalate to physical violence until the plane had landed.
"We were on the runway, and it turned physical," said Laura Grome, Nicole's mother. "You just don’t know what’s going to happen and what may or may not be used as a weapon."
Allen Grome, Nicole's father, expressed his concern about the increasing prevalence of disruptive behavior on flights. "I want to give a shout-out to the flight attendants. They went out of their way to deescalate the situation," he said. "Flying is certainly not like it used to be!"
The Spirit Airlines flight attendant was seen inserting herself between the two brawling passengers in an attempt to separate them. Grome commended her efforts, saying, "That poor flight attendant. She was doing her best."
As the fight intensified, a flight attendant over the intercom urged non-combatants to disembark the plane. "If you're not part of that fight, please get off the airplane!" she said.
Spirit Airlines confirmed that the two individuals involved in the altercation had been placed on the airline's no-fly list. "Law enforcement was requested due to a disturbance that occurred as Spirit Airlines flight 3907 was deplaning in Boston on May 7," a spokesperson said. "We do not tolerate disruptive behavior of any kind, and the passengers involved are no longer welcome on any of our flights."
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Brandon Doherty stated that police arrived at the airport and located the two men after they had exited the security checkpoint. "Both involved parties had made their way to the public side of the security checkpoint," Doherty said. "The victim reported he was not injured and did not wish to pursue any charges."
This incident highlights the growing problem of disruptive and violent behavior on flights, raising concerns about passenger safety and the ability of airlines to maintain order on board.
