This is the shocking moment a Miami cop pulled his gun on a ‘unruly passenger’ during brawl at an Airport departure gate.
Footage shows the officer retreat from a fight after being punched several times and drawing his weapon to shouts from stunned travelers.
Two individuals alleged to be involved in the brawl were taken into custody, Miami-Dade Police Department said.
The incident is believed to have been sparked by a Delayed Charter Flight at the city’s international airport on Monday.
Shocking footage shows the moment a cop pulls his gun on a ‘unruly passenger’ at Miami International Airport during a brawl said to have been sparked by a delayed charter flight. The officer had seconds earlier been in a fight with the man, who allegedly stole the keys to a transport golf cart
It comes amid a rise in violent passenger behavior in airports, with Attorney General Merrick Garland telling prosecutors to focus on incidents involving unruly passengers.
Officers were called out to the airport H8 gate around 6.35pm after a disturbance was reported, according to CBS Local.
At the gate they then found a passenger who had allegedly taken the keys to a transport golf cart, and was not allowing the officer to leave.
A video taken by social media influencer Mike Majlak then shows a man and a police officer trading blows as a large crowd surrounds them.
Officers were called out to the airport H8 gate around 6.35pm after a disturbance was reported because of the delayed charter flight
The officer is seen to have grabbed the passenger in a choke hold, but he then escapes and appears to attack the officer.
The two men are then separated by the crowd, with the officer retreating and reaching for his gun.
Passengers are then heard shouting as the office draws his weapon, appearing to aim it at the man for a few seconds.
A small child is seen standing just meters away.
Several news sources said the officer also radioed for backup. Backup officers later arrived at the scene and brought the crowd under control.
Passengers are then heard shouting as the office draws his weapon, appearing to aim it at the man for a few seconds. A small child is seen standing just meters away
Two individuals were taken into custody and charges are pending.
MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié released the following statement on the incident: ‘Like airports across the country, MIA is seeing record-high passenger numbers this winter travel season.
‘Unfortunately, that passenger growth has come with a record-high increase nationwide in bad behavior as well, such as the incident this evening at MIA.
‘Disruptive passengers face police arrest, civil penalties up to $37,000, being banned from flying, and potential federal prosecution.
‘We have worked so hard to rebound from the pandemic and make traveling safe again, so we can visit our loved ones.
US prosecutors have been told to prioritize federal crimes on commercial flights after crews saw a record number of cases of violence onboard – including more than 3,000 mask-related incidents. Pictured: Travelers at Orlando International Airport
‘Please travel responsibly by getting to the airport extra early, being patient, complying with the federal mask law and airport staff, limiting your alcohol consumption, and notifying police at the first sign of bad behavior by calling 911.’
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday period last month, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo directing US attorneys to focus on the historic number of investigations into violent passenger behavior.
Federal law makes it an offense to interfere with a flight crew, including assaulting, intimidating or threatening crew members.
But in the last year alone there have been 5,338 unruly passenger reports, of which 3,856 were mask related incidents, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In a statement, Garland said of unruly passengers: ‘They prevent the performance of critical duties that help ensure safe air travel.
‘Similarly, when passengers commit violent acts against other passengers in the close confines of a commercial aircraft, the conduct endangers everyone aboard.’
The memo also notes that dozens of incidents have been reported to the FBI by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – it investigates some flight disturbances and can issue civil fines to disruptive passengers – as part of an ‘information-sharing protocol’ between the two agencies.
The FAA said earlier this month that it had launched 950 investigations into passenger behavior on flights this year.
