The removal of a belligerent man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat from a United Airlines flight was met with cheers from passengers chanting “lock him up.”
The flight to New Jersey from Shanghai, China was delayed for several hours before takeoff as the man hurled insults at the flight crew and fellow passengers.
According to a passenger on the flight, the man called female passengers “moron,” “lesbian” and “Hillary.” At one point the man became so unruly that staff asked passengers exit the plane so that they could remove him before leaving Shanghai.
The man was apparently angered when the airline would not offer him an upgrade and, in protest, said he was entitled to the three seats next to him, despite them being assigned other passengers.
“OK, people shut up. I am entitled to that seat,” the man is heard on video saying.
This guy has been delaying my wife’s Shanghai to EWR United flt this a.m.. He wants to be dragged off so he can get his 25 million. MAGA hat pic.twitter.com/xWRSmpinpM— Daniel O’Connell (@DanOfromNYC) May 21, 2017
The man eventually left the plane in Shanghai, according to a spokesperson for United Airlines. His behavior forced the flight to be diverted and make an unscheduled landing in San Francisco so the fatigued flight crew could be relieved, the spokesperson said.
“We’re grateful for the patience shown by our customers who endured the disruptive behavior of this passenger, as well as the exceptional poise and professionalism of our flight crew,” United said in a statement.
