Union defends American Airlines worker after altercation

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants is defending an American Airlines worker who was reportedly suspended after an apparent altercation with a passenger carrying an infant.

The flight attendant in question allegedly hit a woman with a stroller that she had brought on a flight and nearly struck her child while forcibly taking the stroller. A video after the alleged incident shows the woman in tears, before another passenger stands up and confronts the flight attendant. 

In a statement, the union — which represents American Airlines flight attendants — urged the public not to jump to conclusions about the reported episode, saying that the facts of the incident remain unclear.

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“There are really two stories here related to this incident aboard a San Francisco to Dallas flight,” the statement reads. “One, we don’t know all of the facts related to a passenger who became distraught while boarding a plane and therefore neither the company nor the public should rush to judgment.”

“Second, it appears another passenger may have threatened a flight attendant with violence, which is a violation of federal law and no small matter. Air rage has become a serious issue on our flights.”

American Airlines said it was investigating the incident and expressed remorse for the situation.

“We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident,” the airline said in a statement.

The incident aboard the American flight comes as United Airlines faces heightened scrutiny for an incident earlier this month in which a passenger was forcibly dragged off a flight after he refused to give up his seat to a United employee. 

The episode caused an uproar over flight crews’ treatment of passengers and airlines’ overbooking policies.