A Maryland man faces charges after video footage captured him punching a United Airlines gate agent at Washington Dulles International Airport.

“United Airlines passenger punches a gate attendant at Washington Dulles International Airport when his flight was allegedly canceled and another fully booked. Maryland resident Christopher Stuart Crittenden, 54, attempted to walk onto the jet bridge at Gate D12 inside the Washington DC airport on Thursday as arriving passengers were deboarding,” Breaking Aviation News & Videos wrote.

“The unidentified employee blocked the man, who was carrying a bag over his shoulder and wearing a backpack, from accessing the restricted area. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police say the passenger was charged with assault and disorderly conduct. United said he’s banned from flying on the airline’s flights,” it added.

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NBC4 Washington reports:

Video posted to social media shows a United Airlines gate agent being punched by a passenger at Washington Dulles International Airport.

“My immediate reaction was that I was horrified,” said Richie Johnsen of the Machinists Union, which represents the gate agent and is the largest airline union in North America.

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The video was shot Thursday night at gate D12. The video appears to show a frustrated passenger punching a customer service agent in the face. The employee falls to the ground.

“The representative that was assaulted is going to be OK physically,” Johnsen said. “He did have to go to the hospital. He is banged up and bruised.”

Per TMZ:

In other footage obtained by TMZ, Crittenden shows zero remorse, screaming “United sucks!” while being cuffed by police and led away — prompting cheers from onlookers.

A fellow passenger tells TMZ the guy was already heated after his first flight got canceled, the next one was full, and even though he finally snagged a seat on the third flight, he was still pissed over the delay.

When the gate agent tried explaining things, Crittenden lost it, allegedly swung at him, and reportedly even tried to go behind the counter to take a swing at the pilot, before getting tackled.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s fire and rescue department told TMZ the injured gate agent was transported to a local hospital.

United Airlines issued a statement saying that Crittenden — a retired Montgomery County Fire Department Captain — has been banned from ever flying with the airline again.

 

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