During a Frontier Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Miami last week, an unruly airline passenger was restrained with duct tape after becoming physically abusive toward crew members and fellow passengers. The man, later identified as 22-year-old Maxwell Berry, reportedly groped flight attendants and punched a male crew member, leading to his forcible restraint for the remainder of the flight.
The incident escalated quickly after Berry consumed several alcoholic drinks and began acting aggressively toward the flight staff. He allegedly touched the backside of a female flight attendant while placing a drink order, prompting her to immediately tell him, “Don’t touch me.”
According to reports from police and witnesses, Berry then spilled his drink on himself and proceeded to the lavatory. He emerged shirtless, prompting another attendant to ask him to put on a shirt. She helped retrieve one from his carry-on, but Berry continued to wander the aisle for roughly 15 minutes before he allegedly groped the breasts of a second female flight attendant. When she asked him to stop, Berry reportedly escalated further by wrapping his arms around both women and groping them simultaneously.
The unruly airline passenger was then placed under observation by a male flight attendant who was called in to monitor his behavior. When the crew member asked Berry to calm down and take his seat, the passenger responded by punching him in the face.
At that point, the crew, with the help of other passengers, restrained Berry using a seatbelt extender and duct tape to secure him to his seat until the plane landed. A police report confirmed that this action was necessary to prevent further physical assault or disruption.
Footage of the incident, recorded by a fellow passenger, shows Berry shouting profanities at those around him while boasting about his family’s wealth. “My parents are worth more than two million dollars,” he yells, just before attempting another assault on a crew member. The one-minute video also shows the moment he is physically restrained and secured with duct tape.
Upon arrival in Miami, the FBI responded to the scene but declined to pursue federal charges. Instead, the Miami-Dade Police Department arrested Berry and charged him with three counts of battery. According to authorities, he is currently being processed through the local court system.
Frontier Airlines later released a statement confirming the incident and noted that the involved flight attendants have been suspended from flight duties while an investigation is conducted. The airline also emphasized that their primary concern remains the safety and well-being of passengers and crew.
This case adds to the growing list of incidents involving aggressive in-flight behavior. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported more than 3,700 cases of unruly passenger conduct in 2021 alone. While most incidents are relatively minor, several, like this one, involve physical violence and have resulted in criminal charges or FAA penalties. So far, the FAA has pursued enforcement actions in at least 99 of these cases.
The airline industry continues to call for stricter penalties and greater public awareness to discourage violent or abusive behavior on commercial flights.
Photo Credit: USA Today