Breeze Airways Flight Turns Violent As Man Shouts Racial Slurs And Hits Passengers With Belt
What was supposed to be a smooth trip to Los Angeles on Wednesday (Aug. 13) turned into a chaotic scene when an “intoxicated” Breeze Airways passenger began shouting racial slurs mid-air — leading him to be restrained multiple times.
The passenger, identified as 46-year-old Los Angeles resident David Leroy Carter, was taken into custody by Colorado police after officials say he became “agitated” roughly four hours into his flight from Norfolk, Virginia.
Airline crew reportedly restrained Carter twice, but each time he managed to break free. He also allegedly hit a few passengers with a belt at one point. Breeze Flight MX704 was ultimately diverted to Grand Junction Airport in Colorado, according to NBC Los Angeles. Once on the ground, Carter was arrested and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility before the FBI took over the case.
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The entire incident was caught on camera.
TikTok footage captured the midair standoff as a flight attendant tried to restrain Carter with plastic zip ties. He shoved past her attempts and ignored her commands to sit down. “That’s the last thing you’re going to do to me,” he yelled back, as she continued to yell, “Stop! You need to sit down!” Carter simply smirked and replied, “No, ma’am.”
Things escalated when a fellow passenger stepped in. Without hesitation, a strong man scooped Carter up under the arms, carried him down the aisle and sat him right back in his seat. He then hit Carter with a sharp “Sit your a** down” as if he was talking to a child. See below.
Thankfully, no major injuries were reported, though Breeze Airways confirmed one crew member and one passenger were checked for minor injuries.
In a statement, the airline expressed gratitude for the quick action onboard, emphasizing their focus on supporting the crew, caring for their guests and getting everyone to their final destination.
“Our focus now is on taking care of our Crew and remaining Guests who have been unfairly inconvenienced by this unfortunate event and getting them safely to their final destination as quickly as possible,” the airline said.
