Spirit Airlines Flight Cancellations Lead to Passenger Brawl
Passengers set to board a Spirit Airlines flight quickly gave into their air rage when the flight was cancelled.
The front ticket counter turned into chaos as passengers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport learned that their Spirit Airlines flight had been cancelled.
About 300 Spirit Airlines flights have been cancelled over the past seven days, leaving thousands of passengers angry. The airlines say the cancellations are due to its own pilots, and are currently suing them in a federal court.
Passengers around the country have been plagued by hour long delays and cancellations, and by Monday night, passengers at Fort Lauderdale had had enough.
After travelers had been allowed to board a Spirit flight, it was announced that the flight was canceled. Passengers rushed off the plane to the ticket counter, where other travelers were already patiently waiting in a growing line.
Video footage shows deputies struggling with travelers; some were pulled aside from the crowd, while others were taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs.
Airline employees and police tried to scale down the commotion but passengers continued to struggle and fight to get to the front of the line.
Spirit Airlines Paul Berry said the company was “shocked and saddened” to see the events that took place at Fort Lauderdale airport, but blamed the pilots for the outrage.
“These pilots have put their quest for a new contract ahead of getting customers to their destinations and the safety of their fellow Spirit Team Members,” Berry said in a statement.