Passengers and crew were left stunned after a woman went berserk on a plane and had to be hauled out of the aircraft in New York City. A Southwest Airlines flight in LaGuardia experienced some delays on the tarmac after a passenger started behaving belligerently and attacking another passenger. Authorities identified the passenger as 32-year-old Leanna Perry.
Perry had booked a Kansas City-bound flight, but after she launched into a loud and violent outburst, the only place she was taken to was a holding cell. The incident happened while the aircraft was still at the gate, just after 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to reports, the woman started yelling without clear provocation, drawing confused stares and nervous glances from those nearby. Footage shows her yelling derogatory remarks at everyone and kicking in the air.
Things escalated quickly when she lunged at another female passenger, grabbing her by the hair and refusing to let go, even as others tried to intervene. Flight attendants attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the woman became increasingly combative.
Videos taken during the incident show Perry clutching the other passenger’s hair while denying she was doing anything wrong. Crew members and fellow travellers eventually managed to restrain her on the cabin floor, though she continued to yell and thrash.
The flight, which had yet to take off, was delayed as police were called to the gate. Port Authority officers arrived shortly after and removed the woman from the plane. Later footage shows her being wheeled through the terminal on a stretcher, appearing subdued.
Authorities confirmed that Perry, a New York resident, was taken into custody. Perry now faces an aggravated assault charge. TMZ reported that officials said the woman was allegedly under the influence. No serious injuries were reported, but the disruptive episode left many shaken. The airline has not commented publicly on the incident.
