A passenger allegedly bit a police officer after sparking chaos on a plane when she refused to pay for excess baggage.
The woman ignored airline staff who stopped her from boarding a low-cost JetSmart flight after her hand luggage was found to be overweight.
Instead of resolving the issue at the gate, she reportedly slipped past checks and boarded flight JA 3104 anyway, just minutes before it was due to depart from Buenos Aires for Cordoba.
Airport police were called to remove her from the plane – but officers faced a struggle inside the cabin. During the confrontation, the passenger allegedly sank her teeth into the right arm of a female assistant officer as fellow travellers watched on.
View 3 ImagesThe passenger reportedly slipped past checks minutes before the JetSmart flight was due to depart Buenos Aires(Image: JamPress)
Videos filmed by passengers captured the dramatic scenes as officers struggled to restrain the woman inside the cabin, with some people applauding as she was finally escorted off the aircraft.
The incident happened at Jorge Newbery Airpark in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Tuesday. The woman was treated for minor injuries at the airport’s medical centre following her arrest.
The flight was delayed briefly before eventually departing.
View 3 ImagesThe woman allegedly sank her teeth into the right arm of a female assistant officer(Image: JamPress)
JetSmart had been carrying out strict hand-luggage checks at the gate, even asking passengers to remove jackets to prevent hidden items. The airline has not issued a public statement on the matter.
Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Federal Court No. 3 has ordered the woman’s detention and taken statements from the injured officer, a shift supervisor and JetSmart crew members who witnessed the incident.
No formal charges have yet been announced and the case remains under judicial review.