CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) removed a woman from a departing flight at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) on June 30, 2025, after a flight attendant reported intoxication signs, but a gate agent strongly disagreed, claiming the passenger appeared perfectly fine.
Police body cam footage from NYDETECTIVE captured this rare internal debate, exposing differing staff views and questioning the removal’s necessity under the airline’s new policy.
The incident highlights how one flight attendant’s observation led to ejection despite conflicting testimony, while the passenger’s later combative behavior in the jet bridge added complexity. It offers an unusual glimpse into real-time crew deliberations rarely available to the public.
United Airlines Passenger Removal
On June 30, 2025, police were called to a United Airlines (UA) flight at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) after reports of an intoxicated passenger causing a disturbance in seat 24F.
The lead flight attendant told officers the woman had stumbled down the aisle, slurred her words, and gave attitude when asked if everything was okay. The crew, including the captain, wanted her removed for safety.
A gate agent who had interacted with the passenger during boarding returned to the forward galley and challenged the assessment.
She stated she did not see the woman stumble on board, did not smell alcohol, and believed the passenger seemed perfectly fine.
The gate agent appeared genuinely surprised that the crew wanted her off. The flight attendant almost seemed to take offense, visible in her facial expression.
The captain, visibly super hesitant, eventually informed the woman she had to leave. She initially refused, insisting the removal was unjustified.
Officers explained that if she did not comply, they would make all other passengers deplane before physically removing her. After some back-and-forth, she agreed to exit.
In the jet bridge, the woman became a bit confrontational. While being placed in handcuffs, she peed a little bit through her pants.
According to OMAAT, this incident stands out because the body cam footage lets us hear the crew deliberate directly, an uncommon occurrence.
United Airlines’ New “Huddle Process” Policy
In May 2025, United Airlines introduced a mandatory “huddle process” for removing passengers showing “red light behaviors” after boarding.
The internal policy states: “After boarding, if two flight attendants independently observe a customer exhibiting red light behavior(s) the Inflight team will call a mandatory huddle between Inflight, Flight Ops and Airport Operations to facilitate customer removal from the aircraft.”
Red light behaviors include moving in slow motion, needing time to respond, glassy eyes, losing train of thought, irrational statements, spilling drinks, walking awkwardly, stumbling or falling, inability to sit upright, slurred speech, and smelling like alcohol.
In this case, a male flight attendant briefly confirmed the woman couldn’t walk straight, but the decision appeared driven primarily by the lead flight attendant.
The full collaborative huddle process, requiring two independent observations, was not clearly followed.
Staff Disagreement and Judgment Questions
The gate agent’s defense raises questions about whether the passenger’s behavior was truly outrageous or if personal friction between her and the flight attendant played a role.
The original observer was not present during boarding, so the exact actions remain unclear.
It is possible the flight attendant’s greeting or de-escalation style contributed to tension. A different crew member at the door might have handled the interaction differently, potentially avoiding escalation.
Passenger Behavior and Outcome
While the removal’s justification is debatable, the woman’s combative response to officers in the jet bridge did not present her in a favorable light.
Her refusal to deplane initially and the urination incident while handcuffed reinforced some safety concerns.
This event shows how subjective judgments can lead to different outcomes in aviation safety decisions.
Why This Incident Matters
Staff often remove passengers for poor behavior, but they rarely document internal disagreements.
The police body cam footage provides rare insight into how crew members can hold opposing views on the same situation.
United’s huddle policy aims to standardize responses and prevent single person decisions, yet this case illustrates that implementation can vary.
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