An American Airlines customer was on a flight to remember last month thanks to a seemingly enraged passenger who aggressively punched the back of her seat throughout their trip.
Passenger Wendi Williams took to Twitter this week to share footage of her Jan. 31 flight from New Orleans to Charlotte, North Carolina. Theshocking 44-second clipshows a man striking her reclined seat over and over again with his fist. Williams says the episode lasted much longer than what the footage shows.
After raising the issue with a flight attendant, Williams accused the crew ofignoring her complaintsand even offering a drink to the man, who was seated against a wall in the last row of the plane.
“After much consideration, and exhausting every opportunity for American Airlines to do the right thing, I’ve decided to share my assault, from the passenger behind me, and the further threats, from an American Airline flight attendant.” Williams wrote in atweet. “She offered him a complimentary cocktail!”
“Look at his knuckles,” sheadded. “He was PUNCHING meprior to the video! It was scary and very painful!”
American Airlines plane.Scott Olson/Getty
In a statement to PEOPLE, the company said they are aware of the incident and are “looking into the issue.”
According to Williams, the incident began when the man became angry after she reclined her seat. She complied after he asked her to put the seat in the upright position while he ate. But when he finished the meal, Williams reclined her seat again, and that’s when she says the man punched the seat “hard” nine times. This is what prompted her to begin filming.
Williams claims the man’s repeated jabbing during the flight left her with lingering pain.
“I’m done being quiet! I’ve had extensive neck surgeries – my cervical spine is completely fused, except for C1,” shewrote.
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The viral video sparked discussion on social media about reclining seats, and whether they should be allowed on flights.
“Why were you so inconsiderate?” one Twitteruserwrote to Williams. “Reclining airline seats is such a dud move.”
“Doesn’t matter that she had her seat reclined,” respondedanother. “He had no business beating the back of her seat. She made it clear that her seat was up while he ate.”
“It’s an airline issue,” shewrote. “Everyone is losing their minds, saying crazy things to me, [because] I reclined my seat, which is — [say] it with me — reclinable!”
source: people.com
