No words are a good enough reason to put your hands on someone, period. I do realize we don't have the whole story and video was started after the altercation had started, but on viewing just the video provided I pick the airline employee is out of line. To me I notice that the passenger pulls back away and even turns his attention away from employee and looks and addresses another person and then the United Express Employee blind sides him with a slap or punch (not fully sure which) to the face and neck area. Also note the stance this employee comes into when he aggressively walks from behind the counter into his face and note the arms and hands squaring off as to begin fighting. The passenger was defending himself after the employee attacked him first. And as a matter of fact the employee was fired. Yes the passenger was arrested, but they were (as they always do) going with the airlines employees stories where this passenger was probably all on his own. Accept now there is video of it. As he stated on twitter account, he is not done with United on this matter and I believe he does in fact have a case for false arrest as he reacted after the employee attacked him, self defense IMO... And BTW; what do you expect after popping someone in the face. That employee deserved to lose his job, the pass. never touched him until he attacked him and put his hands on the passenger...
news.yahoo.com
Airport worker fired after brawl with former NFL player Brendan Langley
‘United Airlines does not tolerate violence of any kind at our airports,’ the airline says