A video showing a passenger shouting homophobic slurs at flight attendants and fellow passengers as he was thrown off an American Airlines flight has gone viral.
The clip, posted to Reddit’s r/americanairlines subreddit earlier this week, shows the man posing as a GlaxoSmithKline employee ranting angrily as flight attendants tried to help him locate his carry-on luggage and him to escort out of the plane. He also admits to being “drunk”.
“Obviously I’m the white man who took the black bag because I’m racist,” says the man. “You kick me off the damn plane for being racist. I haven’t done anything.”
The passenger who captured the video and posted it on Reddit claims the man was kicked off the Philadelphia-Dallas flight for being “inappropriate to the woman in the seat next to him.”
According to the witness, the man repeatedly addressed racial slurs to the flight attendants before they began recording.
“I hope all you liberal f***ts crash that damn plane, you f***ts,” the man yells at the passengers as he’s escorted off the plane.
A disgusting homophobe is flown out of Philadelphia for molesting the person sitting next to him. The man has a huge meltdown on the way out bragging about his job at GlaxoSmithKline as a chemical engineer… Probably not for much longer, sir. pic.twitter.com/NVir4Oj4Hn
— 🥀_Imposter_🕸️ (@Imposter_Edits) September 2, 2022
The clip made it to Twitter, where one commenter praised the flight attendants’ composure and professionalism.
@AmericanAir Is that your plane and crew? The professionalism of these strong women deserves recognition. The queen dealing with him immediately evoked a sense of safety and security. I look forward to my flight with you next month.
– The Deb 🌻 🇺🇦 (@dgreene7151) September 2, 2022
Another, who claimed to be a GlaxoSmithKline employee as well, said he plans to “look into it.” On Thursday, he added that the “situation at the company has already resolved itself.” In the video, the man claimed he plans to quit his job as a chemical engineer at the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.
A statement sent to LGBTQ Nation confirmed the man had been fired from the company.
“On Wednesday evening, GSK was notified of an incident involving an employee on a flight to Dallas,” a spokesman wrote. “We immediately opened an investigation and he has been off GSK as of Thursday. The person’s statements were reprehensible and do not reflect our corporate culture. At GSK, diversity, equity and inclusion are embraced and celebrated, and we are committed through policies, principles and practices to maintaining an environment that prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all.”
I’m also a chemical engineer at GSK, but I don’t know this guy. But I will look at it.
— Chad Farrenburg (@ChadFarrenburg) September 2, 2022
The situation had apparently already resolved itself. I don’t know any more and I won’t ask.
— Chad Farrenburg (@ChadFarrenburg) September 2, 2022
He is no longer an employee of GSK.
— Chad Farrenburg (@ChadFarrenburg) September 2, 2022
On Wednesday, GSK was briefed on an incident involving an employee on a flight to Dallas. We immediately opened an investigation and as of Thursday he is no longer employed by GSK. The behavior of the person was reprehensible and does not correspond to our corporate culture.
— GSK USA (@GSKUS) September 2, 2022