Moment ‘passenger punches flight attendant and tries to open plane’s emergency exit after being asked to move seats’
A RAGING passenger punched a flight attendant and tried to open the emergency exit after being asked to move seats.
Shocking footage shows the moment Cody Lovins, 47, flipped onboard a packed United Airlines jet in the US.
Lovins and his wife were reportedly sitting in someone else’s seats when they were asked to move by the attendant.
The flight attendant can be seen standing in the aisle, facing Lovins, when suddenly he swings towards them.
A woman who appears to be Lovins’ wife then tries to restrain him as he looks onwards, before running towards the emergency exit doors and trying to open them.
Horrified onlookers could be heard begging him to stop.
Passenger Naya Jimenez captured the confrontation onboard the flight from San Francisco to Houston, Texas.
Jimenez observed that Lovins’ speaking became slurred as he spoke to flight attendants about how his seats had been upgraded – and refused to move from them.
She told local news: “I’m not really a confrontational person, so I sat at a seat that I found nearby and just kind of waited things out because I didn’t want to block anybody else from sitting in their seat.
“The flight attendants just kicked in, and everybody pulled him back to safety.”
Lovins was arrested upon landing in San Francisco, given a citation and released, according to police.
United Airlines announced that he is banned from any future flights with them, and called his behaviour unacceptable.
Their statement read: “We are working with local law enforcement in their investigation.
“We’re grateful to our team for their professionalism and for looking out for the safety of our customers and their fellow United employees.”
An American Airlines passenger made headlines after punching a flight attendant after being refused a cup of coffee.
Alexander Tung Cuu Lee, 33, sparked chaos on board the American Airlines flight from Mexico to Los Angeles.
The suspect reportedly started mumbling to himself about “killers” on board the plane and whispering “there are 10 killers on the plane”.
Lee was then allegedly confronted by two flight attendants about his strange behaviour.
As the staff member turns around and starts walking away, Lee sprints towards him and thumps him in the back of the head with a closed fist.
The suspect was led off the plane by LA cops once it touched down, and has since been detained.