A Frontier Airlines flight attendant was captured on video physically engaging with a passenger after a flight from New Orleans landed in Georgia, according to footage reviewed by TMZ.com. The incident occurred on October 6 following the arrival of flight 2052 at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
The video shows a male flight attendant holding a woman in a bear hug as other passengers crowd near the exit door. The two struggle briefly before the attendant pushes the woman away. In the footage, the woman can be heard shouting at the crew to open the door and allow passengers to disembark. The video carries a caption stating, "Frontier Airlines Locked Us On The Plane w NO AIR FOR A HOUR."
A representative for Frontier Airlines provided an account of the events to TMZ.com: "On October 6, after flight 2052 from New Orleans to Atlanta arrived at the gate at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and passengers were beginning to exit the aircraft, a mechanical issue caused the jet bridge to become misaligned with the cabin door, thus precluding a full deplaning until maintenance personnel could address the issue."
According to the airline, flight crew members made cabin announcements to keep passengers "apprised of what was happening." Deplaning resumed once the jet bridge was repaired and reconnected, a process the airline said took 27 minutes.
Frontier also stated to TMZ.com: "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and discomfort that arose during this process. We are continuing to seek further details."
The confrontation highlights the tensions that can arise when operational disruptions leave passengers waiting on board. The airline has not released additional information about the passenger or the flight attendant involved.