On May 26th, 2024, a flight at St. Pete Clearwater International Airport was forced back to the gate after a midter dispute escalated, prompting police to respond to reports of a physical altercation on board. >> Lady in Alpha was like his face. He was like, "No, I didn't get that." He tried to stand up early. >> What did she say? He was recent. What? I missed the beginning part. >> Oh, we were in the middle of the demo. Uh lady behind that hit the button for us to >> Oh, okay. And then you got there. She said that. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. All right. >> Hi. How you doing? down here. >> Can you take him? Uh, >> I'll take him down for the exit. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Sam. >> Hello. How's it going? >> So, uh, what happened? They got everybody. >> Yeah. What what what occurred that this made this happen? >> Bunny paint. >> Oh, you know each other? >> Yeah, we had a kid. >> Oh, wow. I didn't know. They didn't tell me that. >> Thought they were strangers. Oh, okay. Do you have any You have a child together? >> Okay. How old is the child? >> Where's the child here? >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. You guys are just flying home. You guys was on vacation. >> Okay. So, what you guys are arguing about finances, he said, and >> what uh what led him to was sitting next to you? I had to relive it. I'm sorry. Yeah, >> I can tell you. >> Do you guys know each other? >> No, I was just at my behind. >> Oh, okay. So, what what did you see? >> Uh they had been fighting pretty loudly and cursing. Yeah. >> So, they were like this and the middle was open and I think they were fighting over candy bar. >> Okay. Um and then who bought who lunch and um sharing with each other things like that. And then um I did hear him say, "Why don't you come here closer so I can punch you in the face?" And that's when my two daughters were right here and they could hear everything. >> Yeah. And so at that point, I can't say because I did not see it. >> I did not see the this initial one. I don't know if he hit her or she hit him. >> Some altercation went down. I couldn't see it. I could only go by what I heard. >> You were behind it. The seats were in the way, I guess. >> Yep. And I could see the, you know, between them. >> Um, and then it kind of they cooled off for a little bit, so I thought, okay. >> Yeah. And then it kind of got fired up again. And then that's when he hit her and the baby and I did see that. >> Oh, you saw that? >> 100%. >> Yeah, that's when I stood. And then she turned around and asked me to hit the >> You hit the call button. She definitely witnessed physical violence between them. You know, we saw him strike her in the face. I just had to confirm it cuz at this point it's a domestic charge. >> Yeah. >> So it's this is all mandatory now. There's no um even if she doesn't want to press charges, this is all now that I have a witness, we're on body camera, it's on a plane, all this motion is now in place. So, we just have to go over it. >> I wish I didn't see it cuz I don't have time for this either, but >> I hope she's okay. >> But I did hear I did not see. That's why I can't say it'll be okay. He was saying that she came first. I don't know. I didn't see it. >> Okay. But you for sure saw him and did. >> Okay. >> Um, do you have any questions for me or anything? >> Uh, I guess what is my responsibility from here on? >> Um, should a charge be generated, an arrest made, you might get a contact from the state attorney's office, but you live out of state. I'm just going to use your phone number. Um, they may or may not reach out. I don't know how these work cuz I don't do many arrests where everyone's out of state cuz now we've got victim, suspect, everyone's out of state. >> Um >> I don't know. >> They'll reach out but they won't, >> you know, they'll they'll call you. >> Okay. So, what are you >> you trying are you trying to fly today or want to >> I want >> you want to go home. Okay, cuz I have to do a couple things before that occurs since this is now domestic violence, right? If you two are strangers, you go on the plane, he doesn't, we call it a day, no big deal. But since you have a child in common and you're dating, it's a domestic battery allegation. I have to listen to him. I have a witness saying it occurred. So, um, where is your where were you struck there? He said, "Look, is it painful right now? Do you have any other injuries? >> Sore right here. >> Okay. Uh I have to I have to photograph it and then can you look right at the camera? Uh any other Let me see your hands. Can you um you have a pocket or anything? Or I can hold that stuff cuz I got to take a picture of your hand. We have to do it every time because I don't see anything. And then the insides of their hands like that. It's just showing that you don't have, you know, you didn't punch him. Obviously, you don't have any injuries to your hands or anything. So, what occurred at first prior to her seeing? Was there a physical altercation prior to that? >> Argumentation on finances. >> Was it physical prior to him punching you that she saw? >> No, just verbally. Yeah. >> So, you were only struck like one time in the face? >> Yeah. >> Report I know. I'm sorry. >> No, it's all right. Let's We argue about everything about every day. It gets old. >> We don't usually have a problem in public though. >> Yeah. Usually try to behave in front of people. >> On planes. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, that's all right. >> But when she backhanded me, I freaked out and re and didn't understand what was going on. So, I reacted and I did it, too. And a lady saw me do that behind me and And >> she'll tell you she did it first. Probably. >> Probably. >> Maybe. I don't know. >> Who knows? >> We both grew up in Iowa. >> Okay. >> And [clears throat] I met her in Iowa and I moved to Kansas once we had a baby coming. So I don't I don't have anything on my record. So >> Okay, that's good. >> A couple overdue guys, but that wasn't reckless or criminal was. I mean nothing I'm not messing with people basically. I'm sure this happens but not to us. >> It doesn't happen at the airport. >> Usually people are happy when they're traveling usually. >> Yeah. >> We were but how long have you guys been together? We've been together for six years. Five years. Six. Five or six. I don't know. Like I said, I had a stroke a couple years ago. It changed life. I used to play basketball in Iowa and run 5 miles a day. And since the stroke, it's been difficult. >> Yeah, that's a lot to recover from. >> Well, we would make it home fine right now. Trust me. >> Unfortunately, I don't think the airline will let that happen once something like this happens. I don't think they'll let you travel together because they'll be afraid something will happen up front. >> Yeah. They won't let usually they won't let you travel together because they're afraid if it happens again in the air then they got to divert and it's a big but we'll see like I say it's up to the airline will put one in the back or one in the front. I don't care but guess we got tomorrow off. Yeah. >> Well, she told the attendant I question she did me. She backed me so I freaked out and backed her kind of weird but Yeah, he's not >> get his last me. I just need his information. >> She's not flying, too. All right. >> She's fine. >> She belted me first. >> I mean, come on. >> Um, >> it's ridiculous. >> It's Brian Hints. Is it That's him. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> She backed me first. >> Which his seat number? >> It's either 6A or 6 C. I don't know. >> Six. Row six. >> Okay. >> Why is she going to fly first? I mean, come on. >> We'll go up there. You check in jail tonight, right? When do I get out? I see a jail. Don't worry. >> Yeah. You'll go front in the morning. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Have to come back to Florida or >> uh Well, that's that's actually a great question. I don't know. I've never done this at the airport. I don't know. You want me to pull my car up first or walk? Actually, let's walk over there. That way, nobody sees you. I'm not sure. >> Well, I really appreciate you cooperating, man. >> I'm fine. I'm finally cooperating, but I'm tired of her whining about everything. >> How long you guys been together? >> Been together five or six years with a three-year-old together. >> Yeah, that's what she said. >> But I'm moving out. Trust me. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um All right. Here. We'll I got to take that there and put it on the hood. Oh, it's heavy. >> Here, hop over here. >> Um you >> can you turn my car on? The keys are in the cup holder. All right. We just got to make sure there I mean obviously you just went through TSA. So >> what do you mean? >> I'm not marrying her. >> I'm going to check in. >> We have a three-year-old girl. >> I got to put you in handcuffs, buddy. >> Uh she can't move very well. So >> I know stroke. So >> let me see if these even big. Uh >> yeah, go ahead and clip that bad boy on there. >> We're going to give you second set so your arms can move a little further. >> You got to sit in here for a few in the AC and then I got a van coming. That way it's faster and you're not going to have to sit in this cramped car while we go. >> Where's my bag going? >> It's going with you. >> I just can't have it like in the back. >> You want me to sit in here? >> Uh you spin around. It's easier. >> Face out and stick your butt in. >> I can do that. >> Yeah, I'll help you. In the end, officers charged him with domestic battery. Drop your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to like and subscribe. [music] >> [music]