A man was arrested after a violent altercation that was caught on video aboard a Southwest Airlines flight before it left Miami International Airport.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said it happened on Denver-bound flight WN 268 at around 4:40 p.m. on Friday.
According to an arrest report, the victim told deputies that 32-year-old Marcial Martinez became disruptive during boarding. When the victim approached to try to control Martinez, he allegedly pushed him.
Miami-Dade CorrectionsMiami-Dade Corrections
Marcial Martinez
The arrest report states that the victim is a U.S. Department of Energy officer who was in plain clothes at the time.
Video posted to the Instagram account of Only In Dade shows part of the fight. Martinez is yelling for another passenger as crew and the apparent victim are trying to guide him off the flight.
“Sir you need to step off the aircraft,” a flight attendant says.
“I don’t give a f— what you say,” he replies, then turns around. “F— you guys.”
Later, video shows the officer and Martinez grappling as he continues yelling expletives. They fall into the aisle, and off camera, someone says: “Get your hands behind your back. We’re done, you understand me? We’re done!”
According to the report, the victim said the suspect had “blood shot eyes” and “an odor of alcohol.”
After deputies responded, Martinez told them that he was having a verbal argument with his wife when the victim intervened and pushed him first.
Martinez, a resident of New Mexico, was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on charges of battery and disorderly intoxication.