A Maryland man has been permanently banned from flying with United Airlines after he suddenly attacked a gate agent at Washington Dulles International Airport on Thursday evening.
The violent altercation, which was caught on video, occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority were called to Gate D12 after they were informed that “a passenger punched a United Airlines gate agent,” according to a statement provided to People, adding that “The passenger involved has been banned from future travel on United.”
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The passenger—who was identified as Christopher Stuart Crittenden, a 54-year-old man from nearby Frederick, Maryland—was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. According to Fox 5, Crittenden is a retired fire department captain.
The victim, whose name was not made public, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
While no official details were given about what led to the attack, passengers who witnessed the event told local CBS affiliate WUSA9 that it unfolded after a flight was canceled. The agent in question was believed to be stopping Crittenden from approaching the gate, as the flight was already fully booked. Witnesses claim they heard the assailant say “I’m done with this bulls—,” before punching the unnamed airline employee.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the union that represents more than 100,000 airline employees, issued a statement in which it promised to continue to protect its workers from an increasing number of hostile attacks.
“Across the country, airline customer service representatives continue to face physical assaults, including being punched, kicked, struck by thrown luggage, and having their clothing ripped. Some of these attacks have resulted in life-altering injuries,” the union wrote. “Despite the rise in violent incidents over the past several years, there have been minimal legal repercussions for offending passengers.”
“As long as these violent incidents persist, the IAM will not stop advocating for real enforcement of laws that protect airline employees,” the union concluded.
