A Delta Air Lines passenger was removed from a flight at New York City's JFK International Airport on Thursday after an onboard outburst that was captured on video and circulated widely on X. The flight was bound for Atlanta.
According to TMZ.com, the man could be heard directing a racial slur at officers as police escorted him off the aircraft. The same report states that, before his removal, he allegedly screamed "death to America" and pretended to shoot other travelers.
Delta addressed the episode in a statement to TMZ, saying, "Delta has zero tolerance for disruptive behavior, and we thank law enforcement for their assistance in removing this unruly customer." The airline also expressed regret to those aboard for what they experienced and for any disruption to their journeys.
TMZ reports that 160 passengers and 6 crew members were on the aircraft when the situation developed. The flight ultimately left JFK roughly 45 minutes later than planned.
What set off the man's behavior remains unknown, and it is not clear whether he was taken into custody. TMZ said it contacted Port Authority Police and had not received a response as of its report.
The episode highlights the pressure flight crews and law enforcement face when a single passenger's conduct threatens to unsettle an entire cabin. Delta's public response signals that carriers are prepared to involve police promptly when behavior crosses into disruption, though questions about the passenger's identity, any charges, and the precise sequence of events remain unanswered.