ROMULUS, Michigan (WXYZ) – Two people were arrested and a Spirit Airlines employee was hospitalized after being attacked outside the D15 gate of a Spirit Airlines flight on Sunday night at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
A passenger was seen on video running over the employee. Passenger Kalia Lewis recorded the video and posted it on her Instagram page.
“Being right there was crazy,” said Lewis. “You always watch videos about crazy things happening, but I never saw it myself.”
She was boarding the flight, heading home to Atlanta, when she heard the discussion begin.
“I can’t believe this is happening at the airport as you just can’t believe it at the airport,” said Lewis.
However, Spirit employees at DTW can believe it. They say that discussions often happen when trying to impose the Spirits price on handbags. They were given anonymity for fear of being fired.
“It’s not like this is something new,” said an employee. “We have to work with the mentality that we have to be prepared so that we can be in an altercation with the guests.”
Spirit Airlines says another employee was also injured. In a note, the airline said that “the agents asked the group to verify that their carry-on baggage was adequate for the aircraft before boarding, at which point the passengers became combative. The agents tried to calm the situation calmly, but were physically assaulted by these passengers while closing a door to prevent them from boarding the aircraft. “
“I couldn’t believe I had climbed that far,” said Lewis. “They slamming the door and closing the boarding gate and everything I said, ‘OK, that’s one thing.’ But then it was like, a race in front of you, it just happened. “
Airport police said two people were arrested and another person was summoned and released. Lewis says it took a while for the police or security to show up. Spirit employees feel that there is more need to do.
“We feel that we are not well protected at the airport,” said the official. “We also feel that our safety is not a priority most of the time in the workplace.”
“If I were the employee, I would like to be compensated, because there is no way I am under so much threat,” said Lewis.
In the statement, Spirit also said “This violent behavior is totally unacceptable and has absolutely no place at airports or any other place of business. We will not tolerate abusive behavior of any kind and these passengers will be banned from any future journey with Spirit. Others questions about this incident should be directed to law enforcement authorities. “