A Frederick man punched a gate agent at Dulles, leading to his arrest.
In Dulles, Virginia, a United Airlines gate agent was punched by a Frederick man at Dulles International Airport on Thursday night, resulting in the agent being hospitalized. The incident was captured on video and shared with WUSA9.
Christopher Stuart Crittenden, a 54-year-old man from Frederick, Maryland, was taken into custody on Thursday and has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
The footage shows Crittenden approaching the gate agent as passengers were disembarking at the gate. The agent blocked Crittenden from advancing, prompting him to utter, “I’m done with this bullsh*t,” before making an incomprehensible remark and swiftly striking the agent, causing the agent to collapse instantly.
Witnesses say the full interaction lasted around 15 minutes. According to one witness, there was an issue with a flight being canceled, and the flight at that gate was fully booked.
The gate agent was transported to a local hospital by the Airports Authority’s fire and rescue department.
United told WUSA9 that he has been banned from all future travel on the airline.
In a statement, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Works Union (IAM Union) condemned the violent act. The union demanded stronger protections for airline customer service representatives.
“Our members deserve a workplace where they can focus on providing excellent customer service—not one where they fear being attacked by passengers. This latest incident is yet another example of the unacceptable rise in violence against frontline airline workers, and immediate action is needed to address it,” the statement reads, in part.
The union is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to take action and implement the stronger safety standards that recently passed under the current FAA reauthorization. These standards include employee assault prevention and response plan standards.
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“As long as these violent incidents persist, the IAM will not stop advocating for real enforcement of laws that protect airline employees,” the union said.
