Fly the ANGRY SKIES: Passengers arrested over cancelled flights caught on video

Frustrated Spirit Airlines passengers erupted in anger and frustration Monday after numerous flights were cancelled at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport in Florida.

A contract dispute between the airline and its pilots has led to over 300 flight cancellations in the last week, reports ABC News. 

Police were called to the airport Monday to try and restore order.

“There were several people there that were upset,” Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Gina Carter told ABC News. “We were called in to just make sure that things were kept from getting very unruly.”

According to Pix 11, a group of angry passengers whose flight was cancelled after they had already boarded rushed the ticket counter, cutting ahead of passengers already in line.

An undisclosed number of passengers were handcuffed and detained, but it is not clear if anyone was arrested.

The airline blames the disruption on its pilots, accusing the employees of forcing a slowdown by making themselves unavailable to work.

“These pilots have put their quest for a new contract ahead of getting customers to their destinations and the safety of their fellow Spirit Team Members,” Spirit Airlines spokesman Paul Berry said in a statement, adding that he was “shocked and saddened” by the impact on passengers.

The airline has filed a federal lawsuit against the pilots’ union, Airline Pilots Association, International.

Meanwhile, Carter told ABC News that the situation at the airport had calmed down since police arrived.

It is unclear how Spirit Airlines intends to accommodate customers as the dispute continues.

 

Photo: Associated Press