A man who allegedly assaulted a Southwest Airlines gate agent at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport earlier this week has been charged with battery and banned from flying with the airline, authorities said.
Corney Drummond, 44, of Henderson, Nevada, was arrested Tuesday on charges of battery, petty battery, and obstruction of an officer, according to prison records and new version From the Atlanta Police Department.
Officers were called to the airport gate in response to an alleged physical altercation at approximately 9:20 p.m. Tuesday and found the southwest gate agent whom Drummond had accused of assault.
Atlanta police said the agent told authorities that Drummond was “acting disorderly” after he was asked to leave the flight.
Drummond refused to obey the flight attendants as the plane moved from the gate to the runway, according to the statement. Police investigations found that due to his “aggressive behaviour” the plane was forced back to the gate and Drummond was escorted out.
After Drummond exited the plane, the SouthwestJet customer “threatened a number of times and eventually assaulted him,” according to the statement.
Drummond was captured at the scene and taken to Clayton County Jail without incident.
Investigation is underway.
It was not clear Friday morning whether Drummond, who is still being held under a $10,000 bond, had obtained a lawyer. No one was included in the prison records.
“As a result of this unprovoked attack, the individual has been banned from flying with Southwest Airlines,” the airline told NBC News in a statement Friday morning.
The company added that it “has zero tolerance for any kind of assault on our employees or customers.”
“We commend the swift action by the Southwest team that responded to protect their teammates during this unacceptable event. We also appreciate the local law enforcement officers who responded to assist, and we will fully support their investigation,” the statement concluded.
Unruly passengers have been a problem for airlines throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. So far this year there have been 961 reports of riotous passengers with 126 enforcement cases, according to Federal Aviation Administration.
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