Atlanta police have arrested a person who allegedly assaulted a Southwest Airways worker after earlier being booted from a flight for "behaving disorderly."

A video of the alleged assault posted on-line this week has been extensively shared and drawn headlines. The incident is the newest in an increase in stories of unruly or aggressive passenger habits as flight crews have tried to implement COVID-19 restrictions.

Courney Drummond was arrested on Tuesday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport and charged with easy battery, battery and obstruction, in accordance with police. The incident started earlier when Drummond "refused to conform" with flight attendants as a Southwest Airways flight taxied from the gate to the tarmac, the police reported. The aircraft needed to return to the gate as a result of what police stated was Drummond's "aggressive habits."

After being escorted off the aircraft, Drummond threatened a Southwest gate agent earlier than assaulting him, police stated. Officers responded round 9:19 p.m. native time and arrested Drummond.

A video of the alleged incident reveals airline employees making an attempt to deescalate the scenario by forming a barrier between what seems to be Drummond and the focused worker.

Drummond, of Henderson, Nevada, is presently being held in Clayton County Jail, in accordance with its web site.

Police didn't launch particulars concerning Drummond's alleged habits on the aircraft. It's unclear at the moment if Drummond is presently being represented by a lawyer.

Southwest Airlines Aircrafts
Southwest Airways plane are seen at Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) on December 22, 2021, in Baltimore, Maryland. A person was arrested in Atlanta on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a Southwest Airways worker after being faraway from a flight for "aggressive habits."Alex Wong/Getty Photos

Southwest Airways advised Newsweek in a press release the airline appreciates the short actions of close by staff to guard their colleagues and legislation enforcement.

"Southwest Airways has zero tolerance for any sort of assault towards our Staff or Clients," the assertion stated. "On account of this inexcusable assault, the person has been banned from flying with Southwest Airways."

Figures from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) present a spike of unruly passenger incidents. Knowledge from the administration present that the variety of investigations into incidents of unruly passengers rose to 1,099 in 2021 as customers returned to journey as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed indicators of waning.

Thus far, the FAA has launched investigations into 274 incidents in 2022, already greater than the 183 incidents recorded in 2020.

The FAA stated in September the frequency of unruly passenger incidents has decreased because it started its zero-tolerance coverage in January of 2021, fining vacationers as an alternative of issuing warnings. In 2021, the FAA proposed $5 million in fines towards unruly passengers.

Incidents centering round required face coverings on business flights have accounted for 66 p.c of stories of unruly passengers, in accordance with the FAA.

Earlier this week, TWU Native 556, which represents greater than 16,000 Southwest staff, requested President Joe Biden and different federal transportation officers to carry the masking requirement for public transportation, citing ongoing difficulties crews have confronted making an attempt to implement the mandate.

"Serving onboard throughout these contentious instances and imposing masks compliance is likely one of the most troublesome jobs we've ever confronted as flight attendants," TWU Native 556 wrote in a letter. "The variety of bodily and verbal assaults in our office has elevated dramatically, a lot of that are associated to masks compliance."