We agree that airports can be stressful, with their long lines and short tempers. But on New Year’s Eve at Kansas City International Airport, one passenger did far more — and much worse — than just lose his cool.
A video that has since gone viral shows an unruly passenger unleashing a profane tirade at Southwest Airlines employees. The video shows him repeatedly threatening to “slap” staff and boasting about himself while berating workers behind the counter. According to the New York Post, the incident began at 11:30 a.m. in the airport’s unsecured area and lasted long enough to prompt a police response.
The passenger’s identity has not yet been revealed. However, he argued with multiple Southwest employees, and notably, most of those employees were women. At one point, he placed his hand on a worker’s computer screen, prompting her to warn him to step back. The passenger did not comply, and the confrontation escalated.
When the employee said she would call the police, the man shouted that he did not care about getting arrested and claimed he would become physically violent if he believed the situation warranted it. He leaned over the counter and warned that the barrier “ain’t saving you.” As a crowd of passengers looked on, coworkers stepped in between the man and the employee.
NEW: Man has a complete meltdown in the Kansas City airport, threatens to slap female Southwest workers.
“I’m from the UK, n*gga!” he said.
Passengers waiting for their flight were seen standing up to defend the workers, as security was nowhere to be seen.
The man was upset… pic.twitter.com/nTOJmdNcC9
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 1, 2026
The video also shows bystanders trying to calm him down. One of them urged everyone not to escalate the situation, and a woman filming told the passenger to stop. However, the passenger continued hurling insults as he was pulled away from the area.
According to X (formerly Twitter) user Collin Rugg, who shared the footage, the passenger was later arrested. Airport officials have only confirmed that a disturbance occurred during a security investigation that disrupted operations. Police and the FBI cleared the scene later that day, stating there was no credible threat to the airport. Flights later resumed normal operations.
The clip has drawn attention to air rage, one of the most serious issues airport employees face.
The New York Times has reported on how crowded terminals, long waits, cramped seating, and competition for overhead bin space can turn routine travel into a pressure cooker. According to experts cited by the outlet, a lack of personal space is one of the most common triggers for passengers, especially when combined with delays and perceived slights from staff.
Uh oh. He’s pulling up his pants. It’s serious. pic.twitter.com/rZm9QT5bFm
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 1, 2026
Industry groups like the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have warned that a small number of unruly passengers can threaten safety and traumatize crew members. Additionally, gaps in international air law can sometimes make prosecution impossible.
To combat the problem, IATA is pushing for stricter enforcement, clearer penalties, and better training for airline and airport staff, including de-escalation techniques and limits on alcohol service. The organization has also promoted public awareness campaigns such as #notonmyflight to emphasize that abusive behavior toward airline workers is not part of the experience any of us sign up for.
But why does flying seem to bring out the very worst in some passengers?
