Fist fight breaks out between passengers on flight "over a seat that couldn't unrecline"

[dalton99a]

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/video-fist-fight-breaks-out-between-two-passengers-on-flight-to-austin-from-new-orleans/

Video: Fist fight breaks out between passengers on flight to Austin from New Orleans
by: Chelsea Moreno
Posted: Aug 1, 2021 / 10:43 PM CDT / Updated: Aug 1, 2021 / 10:50 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A video captured on an American Airlines flight from New Orleans to Austin shows a fist fight that broke out between passengers on Sunday.

A passenger on the flight sent KXAN video of what happened, and said two were arrested shortly after the incident. Austin Police has not confirmed that, but KXAN will update this story when we hear back.

A statement from the airline confirmed “law enforcement were requested” after the plane arrived to Austin “due to an altercation between passengers,” but gave no other information. The flight arrived around 4:30 p.m. to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The passenger went on to say the incident began “over a seat that couldn’t unrecline.”

[Solly Mack]

1. WTF, people?

[SheltieLover]

3. This!👆

[Solly Mack]

5. It's like 28 Days Later these days. People have lost their fucking minds.

[North Shore Chicago]

20. +1

[shenmue]

2. Be cool

Please!

[Treefrog]

4. That's horrendous.

Glad they were arrested. Morons.

[whathehell]

6. Looks like two men..

One guy's pants were partly pulled down.. Don't know what that was about.

[Demovictory9]

8. big guy in grey threw first punch, guy in red striped shirt then went beserk on him

[DFW]

7. Depending on the seating arrangement

And knowing American, it was probably already sardine can city, a fully reclined seat, even if only in coach, so really only partially reclined, still means the passenger in back of it is trapped in place and can‘t get in or out. American, with their „you paid, fuck off“ attitude toward passengers, and their cutting corners on maintenance to save on costs, would rather call the cops and delay a flight than take half an hour to repair their defective chair.

[ShazzieB]

10. I would definitely freak out if that happened to me.

I have very few phobias, but one that's a whopper: being so closely confined that I can't move freely. I found this out years ago when I had to have an mri on my knee. When asked if I was claustrophobic I said "No" without hesitation. I've never had a problem with elevators or enclosed spaces where I could actually move around, which is what I thought claustrophia meant. Well, boy howdy, was I wrong! When they stuffed me in that tube, with my arms pinned to my sides and the ceiling a few inches from my face, the feeling of panic was unreal.

I felt like I was literally being buried alive. (Yes, I know that's irrational. That's why it's called a phobia!) The only reason I managed to get through it was because they were doing my knee, so I didn't have to have my head all the way inside. If I'd had to go any further, I'd have had to nope the fuck out of there. As it was, I was just barely able to tolerate it long enough to get the damned thing done. I will never have an mri again unless it's the open kind, OR if I can be fully sedated. Maybe both, lol.

I haven't been on a plane since 1992, and it was cramped then. After reading your description of what it's like to sit behind somebody with their seat reclined, DFW, I'm not sure I ever want to fly again, unless I win the lottery and can afford to go first class. "A fully reclined seat, even if only in coach, so really only partially reclined, still means the passenger in back of it is trapped in place and can‘t get in or out" literally sounds like my idea of torture. If American is really that much worse than all the other airlines, I will for sure avoid THEM if I do need to fly.

[Lars39]

11. Valium or xanax is what I do for MRIs

Open MRIs still feels confining, and don’t give as a clear details, imo.

[Renew Deal]

16. Passengers are not "trapped in place" when a seat is fully reclined.

Coach seats don’t even fully recline. Typically what happens is that people will eventually recline the seat, sometimes as far as it will go. Then it starts a cascade of reclining to buy more space. But nothing traps you in your seat. If you decide to not recline at all, that’s unreasonable, but it is also your problem.

There are some ways to get around this on most planes. You can get seats on the “bulkhead.” No one is in front of you. Most airlines have seats with extra space. They are wider and further from the front of the plane. There’s also business class if you want to spend some money.

[hlthe2b]

15. Yes. My stress level just went up imagining this. Not justifying the response, of course, but...

Reclining seats might have been a great idea when airlines provided a modicum of space and comfort, even in the economy section. But, in the decades since, it has become a nightmare and when malfunctioning.... Uggh. I'd not want to be in EITHER seat.

[monkeyman1]

9. damn , wish they could throw them off at 33,000 ft ? it would stop real fast !!

[Celerity]

12. damn, geo-blocked again

[Celerity]

14. I found a working link

https://cbsaustin.com/newsletter-daily/two-detained-at-austin-airport-following-brawl-over-reported-seat-reclining-dispute

[dalton99a]

19. +1. This is a better video

Unedited - their faces are shown

[smirkymonkey]

13. Flying is bad enough. This kind of thing just makes it unbearable.

What a nightmare.

[Bettie]

17. I don't fly

if we can't drive, we don't go.

Airlines pack people in too closely and it leads to this kind of thing happening.

Last time we flew, the people behind us had devices that kept our seats from moving at all. The row in front of us was fully reclined, so that was fun...never again, unless I can afford business class: spoiler alert: I can't.

[Takket]

18. And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea