An intoxicated Southwest Airlines passenger caused a flight delay after pilots returned the taxiing aircraft back to the gate so that authorities could intervene.
The flight was bound for Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Texas, from New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) on May 29, 2023.
Based on reports from various media outlets, the passenger boarded the flight intoxicated and caused trouble by repeatedly putting her feet up on the seat in front of her, and hitting the passenger occupying that seat.
The passenger, identified as Kamaryn Gibson of Kansas, refused to put her feet down despite being asked numerous times. This prompted the flight’s pilots to return the aircraft back to the gate so that Gibson could be removed with the help of law enforcement.
Deputies from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office soon boarded the aircraft.
At this stage, TikTok user @kicknit35, a passenger on the flight, managed to capture footage of the three deputies apprehending Gibson, and forcibly removing her from the plane.
Fellow passengers can be heard cheering on the deputies while they were trying to seize Gibson, who was resisting, and repeatedly asking if she could have her phone.
@kicknit35 wrote in the video’s caption that Gibson was initially asked by the officers to leave the aircraft without force but “she (Gibson) wasn’t having any of it”.
Authorities told local media NOLA that when Gibson and the three deputies reached the jet bridge, Gibson continued resisting, bit one deputy on the thigh, and kicked the other two.
Gibson was then arrested and booked with three counts of battery of a police officer, disturbing the peace while drunk, two counts of resisting an officer and criminal mischief.
