A passenger brawl broke out on a Southwest flight bound for Kauai on Monday, which came to our attention via Instagram. We were at Lihue airport just prior to the plane landing, awaiting a Southwest flight to Honolulu. Our interisland flight was turbulent, with very gusty wind conditions, but nothing like what was happening on board this flight as it made its way to Kauai.
Southwest Flight 1288 departed Oakland on time at 10:00 am on Monday. In spite of the violent ruckus, the aircraft landed normally on Kauai at 1:40 pm. See a link to the video of the brawl below.
Southwest Airlines confirmed that two customers became disorderly onboard the Hawaii-bound flight Monday. The issue occurred mid-Pacific.
While the flight continued to Kauai undeterred, as is evident from FlightAware above, it was reported that the men were subsequently detained by authorities on Kauai. It’s not known if the two men knew each other or the reason for the fight.
Southwest Airlines said, “We commend our Crew and Customers for their professionalism in diffusing this situation. The flight landed safely at its scheduled destination, and local authorities met the flight upon arrival.”
The Instagrammer who shared the video said, “We all need a friend like the guy in blue (above). A moment of unity on Southwest 1288 (still in the sky) as passengers and crew calm a fistfight and we continue on toward home in Kauaʻi… The guy is still crazy-eyed in the last frame, but watch how Dan (the man in blue) maintains eye contact, uses non-threatening body language and tactical empathy, validates his feelings, and offers alternate solutions. Textbook conflict resolution.
Passenger brawls on flights to Hawaii aren’t unheard of.
In recent times, there has been a surge in unruly behavior on flights to or from Hawaii, or just ones that end up diverting here.
Last year, on Air Canada Flight 35 from Vancouver, a passenger choked a flight attendant, prompting the plane to divert to Honolulu. The passenger was restrained and arrested upon landing.
That incident and this one today add to a string of events, including altercations on Southwest, Hawaiian, and United Airlines flights, where passengers have engaged in disruptive behavior such as fighting, attempting to breach the cockpit, or becoming verbally abusive. These incidents highlight the challenges airlines face in managing passenger misconduct and ensuring the safety of everyone onboard.
Passenger brawls on airliners happen, unfortunately, and occur for various reasons.
These can include disputes over seating arrangements, seat reclining, overhead bin space, drunkenness, and travel stress. It can manifest in verbal altercations to a fistfight like today, posing serious safety concerns for both passengers and crew. Flight attendants put themselves in harm’s way in today’s event, and kudos to them.
Airline flight crews are well-trained in handling these situations and are typically equipped with protocols to de-escalate conflicts and ensure safety.
The prevalence of cell phones and social media led to an increase in documentation and awareness of these incidents, as seen today.
Have you ever witnessed anything like this on a plane?
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Southwest. End of story.
I never had a “discipline problem” with crew or passengers in 30 years of piloting the “friendly skies” – but you’re dealing with a different mentality these days. Seems many folks today are spring-loaded to the “anger” position and many seem to feel a (false) sense of entitlement, no matter what the situation.
Pre-911, we – the cockpit crew – could leave the cockpit and address a problem firsthand, which seemed to lower the “heat” no matter what the route or passenger mix, domestic or international. And it didn’t hurt to “stand tall” and be wearing the cap with scrambled eggs on the brim – and have a big Maglite 3-4 D Cell flashlight in your hand, either. (smiles)
I don’t see the video
me neither
Wow people have lost there minds…. grow up please. stop endangering other people and the crew. stop the violence
Thank you to the staff at beat of hawaii.
Mahalo
Really? Really?
Poor flight crews, I remember when arguing with one was bad form… Not due to unquestioning conformity, but due to respect for the job they were doing….
Best Regards.
At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, I honestly think this is what comes from an entire generation growing up with participation trophies. It’s made them lazy and entitled, with a hyperinflated sense of self. Quick to resolve perceived slights and shattered egos with violence.
It bothers me that the man getting pummeled on looks like he is an elder….how sad. No manners anymore in our country. We need to re-do our system and teach the young ones from the beginning about class and manners….
It sure is the parent (guardians) full duty to raise their children to be respectable. One should not have children unless they can afford to raise them and raise them properly with love and respect.
There’s another story on Instagram @meanhawaii by the son or daughter of one of the men. Sheds a bit more light on the subject. Drunk (window seat)passenger bothering wife of man. Was asked to stop, started swinging.
If presented with the same situation my husband would have changed seats with me to stop the issue in its tracks.
Luckily there haven’t been fistfights on any of the flights I’ve ridden on, but I have seen a few drunk & disorderly passengers. Apparently they got a head start in one of the terminal lounges beforehand, as the beverage service hadn’t made that many rounds yet.
Flight from oakland. Doesn’t surprise me at all
Anyone remember the days when you were served a complete meal on 3 hr or longer flights, there was an unwritten Code of Conduct and Dress for flying? Wasn’t that long ago!
It’s sad and disgusting that people on any flight feel like they can act like a fool and not only put themselves in danger by doing so, but placing everyone else’s life in danger. All just because they feel they have the right to not control themselves not only in public, but even 35 thousand feet in the air. These types of people don’t belong on any flight whatsoever. They should not be allowed to ever fly anywhere on any airline At All…
I agree. All should definitely be put on the no fly list.
Thank you for keeping me posted with all the information around subjects going on in Hawaii. I would never know wise.
Too much of this behavior goes on without much punishment; if any. Time for these people to be Banned from the airlines permanently.
Ahh, another situation that was very rare before the Pandemic, matters not the Carrier, SW, Spirit or whomever, from Puerto Rico, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Minnesota to Hawaii. All seems to get quietly swept under the rug, w/o Penalty to those who cause battery to Airline Employee’s, see demons in the sky, are drunk and dis-orderly, it just disappears in the News Cycle, 72 hours later!
While it quickly fades from the news the actual consequences are more long-lasting.
Interference with a flight crew & assaulting a flight crew member are Federal offenses & will result in prison time & some hefty fines.
Right, focus on how someone tried to save the day, rather realizing these people who feel they can just brawl with Anyone no matter where they are (on an aircraft in this case) and just starts throwing blows without any consideration as to Who is around! And the only focus is $$$ and how these people will be staying at someone’s Air B&B?
I hear the accommodations at Kauai PD are very nice. Not much of a view, but meals are included.
I assume this comment was meant for another article, not the incident on the Kauai flight.