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Who’s in the wrong? Passenger claims man ‘assaulted’ her for reclining seat

The internet is split over who’s in the wrong here: The woman who reclined her seat on a man in the back row, or the man for acting out in revenge.

Janine Puhak
2 min read
February 13, 2020 - 11:12AM
Fox News

An American Airlines passenger has called out the carrier and its employees for failing to act when a man behind her allegedly kept punching the top of her seat in what she describes as an “assault”.

But as video footage of the incident hit Twitter, some social media commenters have argued it was actually the woman in the wrong for inconsiderately reclining back and invading the male passenger’s personal space.

Wendi Williams was recently travelling from New Orleans to Charlotte, North Carolina on a two-hour American Eagle flight, which is a subsidiary of American Airlines, Fox News reported.

Ms Williams took to Twitter to tell her side of the story along with the video footage of the “assault” in a clip that’s gone viral with more than 28,000 views.

“After much consideration, and exhausting every opportunity for American Airlines to do the right thing, I’ve decided to share my assault, from the passenger behind me, and the further threats, from an American Airlines flight attendant,” Ms Williams said.

“She offered him a complimentary cocktail!”

The woman said she was travelling back from a teacher’s convention, and that the man had asked her to put up her seat while he ate. Ms Williams said she obliged but reclined her chair again once he was finished.

“At that point, he started hammering away at me,” she claimed, prompting her to notify a flight attendant.

After complaining to the flight attendant, Ms Williams said the attendant told the man, who appears to have been seated in the back row of the aircraft, that it was “tight back there” and gave him a free rum drink.

Ms Williams said the flight attendant scolded her for videotaping the incident, and gave her a passenger disturbance notice.

“It was scary and very painful,” Ms Williams said, claiming that she lost time at work, had to visit a doctor, receive X-rays and suffered headaches because of the incident.

“I was contacted via phone by American (Airlines), they apologised but really didn’t accept any responsibility for the flight attendant’s actions,” she said.

“I will be calling the FBI to press charges against the ‘man’ who mistook me for a punching bag. Anyone who doesn’t like it, I don’t care.

“Had I not recorded this, no one would’ve believed it. As far as speaking up for myself, he was crazy and so was the FA (flight attendant). He should be shamed. He knew he was being recorded and still acted that way, but you’re right, I’m sure we could’ve shared some tea and had a nice, calm chat.”

Though some Twitter users voiced sympathy for Ms Williams’ plight, others were more sceptical of the woman’s version of events.

Critics countered that it was “unfair” and “mind-boggling” that she would recline her seat against his wishes and invade the man’s space in the first place.

“Move your seat up then,” one offered.

A spokesperson for American Airlines said: “We are aware of a customer dispute that transpired on American Eagle flight 4392, operated by Republic Airways on January 31.

“The safety and comfort of our customers and team members is our top priority, and our team is looking into the issue.”

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/whos-in-the-wrong-passenger-claims-man-assaulted-her-for-reclining-seat/news-story/0388ae9d5f0fc2cebd50ab5d8a7c608b