The United Airlines traveler recorded brawling with a worker at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey, is a 27-year-old football player from Georgia who has actually now been charged with assault. But the video spreading online is stirring up serious controversy.
DailyMail.com reported that Brendan Langley, 27, was jailed on Thursday, May 19 at 11:03 am after trading blows with the unnamed United Airlines employee.
Videos reveal the pair sparring, however, almost all of the video reveals the airline employee throwing the very first blow.
Langley, who when played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos but most just recently played for the Calgary Stampeders in Canada, was the only one detained.
He was held on a single count of simple assault on Thursday. The United Airlines employee was taken to the hospital for injuries however he was not apprehended.
It is thought that the fight started when Langley utilized a wheelchair to carry his baggage, instead of a paid-for baggage cart which cost $5.
The United employee managed to land one blow however was then tackled to the ground, flying behind the check-in desk and onto the carousel.
Brandon Perna of @ThatsGoodSports, quipped,
“United Airlines now knows what it feels like to fly United Airlines”
United Airlines now knows what it feels like to fly United Airlines pic.twitter.com/GUdh6ZEqqq
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) May 23, 2022
He staggered back up to his feet, stumbling towards the traveler who shouted incredulously: ‘He wants more? He wants more!’
Other airline company employees stepped in and the traveler was then removed from the airport by police.
United would not mention whether the airline employee has been disciplined for his role in the altercation.
In a statement, a spokesperson stated just:
“United Airlines does not tolerate violence of any kind at our airports or on board our planes and we are working with local authorities to further investigate this matter.”
Port Authority Police, who dealt with the events at the airport, have not discussed the incident or if either male was charged.
The video has actually been seen more than 11 million times since being posted to Twitter on Friday.
Now, the internet is clearly divided on which of the pair was to blame – and who threw the first punch.
H/T The Daily Mail, TMZ