A United Airlines flight attendant was arrested at Tampa International Airport on March 8, 2025, following an altercation with a Cayman Airways employee. The incident, which began on a crew shuttle bus, has come to light recently after bodycam footage of the arrest was shared online. The flight attendant faces charges of battery stemming from a seemingly innocuous gesture—tapping his counterpart on the shoulder during the bus ride.
Incident Details Unfold
According to reports from Cayman Marl Road, the situation escalated when the Cayman Airways employee engaged in a loud phone call while waiting for the shuttle. A confrontation ensued, with the United Airlines flight attendant allegedly telling her that her voice was “annoying” and instructing her to “close [her] mouth.” The Cayman Airways crew member later accused him of racism, further intensifying the dispute as they boarded the bus.
The United flight attendant reportedly tapped her shoulder in an attempt to get her attention and ask for her identification. While he claimed that his intent was to report her phone use to her employer, the Cayman Airways employee interpreted the gesture differently. In her account, she stated that he reached for her ID badge, prompting her to request that he not touch her.
Legal and Operational Implications
After the incident continued to escalate, the situation moved into the terminal, where the flight attendant followed the Cayman Airways employee in an attempt to gather her details. Local police intervened and arrested him, citing the tap on the shoulder as sufficient grounds for a battery charge under Florida law. This arrest has sparked discussions regarding the nuances of public interaction and the legal implications of physical contact in minor disputes.
The arrest caused operational disruptions for United Airlines, as the flight attendant was unable to fulfill his scheduled duties. This situation highlights the importance of police discretion in handling minor altercations, as the airline faced the logistical challenge of locating a standby crew member to cover the flight.
As of December 2025, United Airlines is set to operate 1,659 flights to and from Tampa International Airport, while Cayman Airways has only scheduled 42 flights for the same period. This disparity illustrates the significant presence of United Airlines at the airport compared to its Cayman counterpart.
Simple Flying has reached out to United Airlines for further comment on the matter and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
