LONDON- A British Airways (BA) flight faced significant disruption when two American women engaged in a physical altercation over a Donald Trump MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat at London Heathrow Airport’s (LHR) Terminal 5.
The confrontation began during boarding when one passenger demanded the removal of the red baseball cap displaying Trump’s campaign slogan.
Women Removed from British Airways Flight
The initial disagreement escalated into physical violence at the terminal, continuing aboard the premium economy cabin of flight BA191 bound for Austin (AUS), Texas. The captain intervened, requesting police assistance to remove both passengers from the aircraft as they exchanged verbal abuse.
Police questioned both women following their removal, with each filing affray claims against the other. Neither woman faced arrest. The incident delayed the scheduled 12:10 PM departure until 2:11 PM, forcing the flight to proceed without both passengers. The incident occurred on October 28, 2024.
British Airways operates one daily BA191 flight between London Heathrow and Austin-Bergstrom with Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.
A Heathrow source attributed the heightened tensions to the proximity of the US Presidential election. British Airways crew deemed the situation too risky for a potential mid-flight escalation at 30,000 feet.
British Airways officials marked this incident as unprecedented, noting no previous flight delays caused by disputes over headwear. The Metropolitan Police received notification of the disturbance at 12:45 PM on Monday, October 28.
Two women, aged in their 40s and 60s respectively, filed reciprocal affray allegations. The Metropolitan Police confirmed ongoing investigations into the Terminal 5 incident.
British Airways issued apologies to affected passengers, implementing measures to minimize further travel disruptions.
Similar Incidents
These are some incidents that involve women passengers’ removal from flights.
On March 29, 2024, A security check on Vistara’s (UK) Delhi-Mumbai flight UK975 escalated when two female passengers made bomb-related jokes during baggage reconciliation. The procedure was initiated after a passenger requested disembarkation due to a family emergency.
Security personnel detained the women following their persistent inappropriate remarks, causing a two-hour flight delay.
Similarly, earlier in March 2024, Angel Harding and her companion faced removal from an Air New Zealand (NZ) Napier-Auckland flight due to their weight. A flight attendant attempted to force down an armrest beside Harding, causing physical discomfort. The crew ordered all passengers to deplane citing an “inconvenience.”
The flight attendant later informed both women they should have purchased two seats each. Both passengers, requiring wheelchair assistance for medical conditions, received separate treatment from other passengers after removal.
Elon Musk Maga Cap Controversy
Elon Musk appeared at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on October 27 wearing a black MAGA hat featuring blackletter typography, describing himself as “dark gothic MAGA.” The hat’s design immediately ignited online debates about its historical implications.
Social media users connected the gothic lettering to Fraktur, a typeface associated with Nazi Germany. Typography experts clarified that Musk’s hat did not feature Fraktur specifically, though the distinction remains largely imperceptible to most observers.
The rally’s location carried historical weight, drawing media comparisons to a 1939 German American Bund gathering at Madison Square Garden. That pro-Hitler event attracted 20,000 attendees and featured American patriotic imagery merged with Nazi symbolism, including George Washington’s portrait flanked by swastikas.
The controversy extends beyond typographic accuracy. Design experts emphasize that visual elements carry inherent contextual meaning, regardless of intent. Musk’s choice of gothic lettering, combined with the rally’s location and current political climate, created unintended but significant historical associations.
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