A retired fireplace chief from Maryland was arrested on prices of assault and disorderly conduct after allegedly chilly cocking a United Airways gate agent with a vicious blow that dropped the unsuspecting man to the ground.
The violent episode befell on March 13 in suburban Washington, D.C., at Dulles Worldwide Airport, the place police stated 54-year-old Christopher Stuart Crittenden sucker punched a uniformed agent at Gate D12 as a bystander captured the complete incident on digital camera.
The sufferer, not up to now recognized by authorities, was taken to a neighborhood hospital by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority fireplace and rescue, in response to Fox 5 DC.
Officers didn’t disclose the severity of the person’s accidents.
A quick clip exhibits Crittenden striding towards the gate, captured from behind as he closes in with a big backpack and one other carry-on hanging from his left shoulder.
As a wave of passengers poured out of Gate D12 from a just lately landed flight, Crittenden was about to step into the circulation of foot visitors when the agent stepped in his path, seemingly to make sure the others may exit safely.
At that second, the video captures Crittenden inserting his left hand on the agent’s proper shoulder whereas throwing a brutal proper hook to his jaw, sending the agent’s legs out from underneath him and slamming him onto the carpet.
The video incorporates no audio, so it’s unclear what the agent stated to Crittenden earlier than being punched.
Crittenden is 54 and retired from the Montgomery County Hearth Departmen,t the place he was captain, in response to his LinkedIn profile. It’s unclear if he has posted bond, however Crittenden’s reserving picture exhibits the balding, grizzled man wanting jet lagged and surly.
A neighborhood information outlet stated it was unable to succeed in Crittenden, and voicemails have gone unanswered.
United Airways has since blacklisted Crittenden, banning him from any future flights.
Video of the violent incident posted on social media sparked outrage.
“Emboldened till he meets up with the best one,” one individual famous within the feedback part. “Low life,” he stated.
Some voices drew parallels between Crittenden’s alleged actions and the standard rambunctious habits related to Donald Trump’s base.
“MAGA being MAGA,” one individual on the identical thread noticed.
Brian Bryant, worldwide president of the 600,000-member Worldwide Affiliation of Machinists and Aerospace Employees Union, and Richie Johnsen, IAM air transport territory normal vice chairman, launched an announcement calling for stronger protections for airline customer support representatives, in response to ABC7.
“Our members deserve a office the place they will deal with offering glorious customer support — not one the place they worry being attacked by passengers. This newest incident is yet one more instance of the unacceptable rise in violence in opposition to frontline airline staff, and speedy motion is required to handle it,” the assertion stated partly.
