A passenger on a Frontier Airlines flight witnessed and filmed a violent altercation that erupted between two passengers after an apparent argument over luggage.
The witness, Kiera Pierre Louis, said the fight turned racial when the first passenger – a White man – used a racial slur against the second passenger – who was Black – because he allegedly took too long blocking the aisle to retrieve his luggage from the overhead compartment.
"I couldn't believe what was going on," Pierre Louis told Local 10.
You can watch the news report, below.
Brawl breaks out on Frontier Airlines flight between passengers at MIA youtu.be
The brawl took place as passengers arriving from Philadelphia were deplaning at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night at Miami International Airport
According to Pierre Louis, the White passenger threw the first punch and called the Black passenger the n-word. That prompted her to start filming the ensuing fight.
Here is the video she posted on her Instagram under her handle, @milli_miami.
Warning: expletives and physical violence.
"You can see the White man on top of the Black passenger just beating him between the seats," said Pierre Louis, explaining what is seen in the video.
"The flight attendant got involved. The white man's wife got involved. His son, I believe, and his son's girlfriend — everyone was just involved."
Several passengers – including a Frontier Airlines flight attendant – intervened to break up the fight and eventually succeeded in pulling the men apart.
Social media users weighed in with their thoughts.
@milli_miami/Instagram
@milli_miami/Instagram
@milli_miami/Instagram
At one point, the video caught the second passenger attempting to go after the first passenger but then changing his mind.
Pierre Louis said the first passenger who allegedly initiated the attack was allowed to exit the plane, but the second passenger was asked to stay behind.
She gave the media outlet her assessment of the situation.
" Racism, of course," she said.
"The Black passenger had to wait on the plane, when he didn't even start it, and the police, while we were walking off the plane, walked right past the person, the White man who actually initiated everything."
@milli_miami/Instagram
@milli_miami/Instagram
In contrast to what Pierre Louis previously said, the Miami Dade Police reported that the Black passenger chose to stay behind so he could file a police report.
However, he decided not to press charges, and the first passenger who supposedly threw the first punch was able to leave.
You can watch the news report from Local 10 in the clip, below.
Brawl breaks out on Frontier Airlines flight between passengers at MIA youtu.be
Following the incident, a spokesperson for the airline issued a statement to Local 10, which read:
"Yesterday as a flight from Philadelphia to Miami was deplaning at MIA, a physical altercation broke out among passengers who were towards the back of the aircraft."
"The flight crew requested law enforcement assistance."
"All passengers involved were asked to remain on the aircraft however some disregarded the flight crew's instructions."
"Ultimately, local law enforcement became involved."
