- A police officer at the Nashville International Airport threatened to arrest stranded Southwest Airlines travellers.
- The incident was captured in viral movies shared to TikTok that have been considered nearly 1.5 million occasions.
- In a statement, the airport stated Southwest Airlines contacted them “asking that a law enforcement officer be dispatched to … escort passengers to the pre-safety ticketing counters.”
Just when but another stranded team of Southwest Airways passengers thought points couldn’t get worse, a police officer threatened to arrest them.
In two viral TikTok videos shared Wednesday by Amani Robinson, a law enforcement officer is seen on ordering tourists at the Nashville International Airport to “leave nearly 1.5 million times.
Robinson and fellow travellers in the posts have been amongst 1000’s stranded at airports throughout the US in excess of the vacations, with many not able to rebook tickets. Southwest was strike especially challenging by the cancellations, which stemmed from wintertime storms and out-of-date scheduling technological innovation that seriously impacted the airline’s staffing.
In the very first online video, a police officer is witnessed demanding “most people to the unsecured facet.” When questioned by users of Robinson’s family members and other bewildered tourists, he replies sternly, “You have no ticket, you never want to be on the secured side.”
“But we have tickets,” an unseen individual says in the online video.
“Your ticket just acquired canceled,” the officer replies.
“Okay, so are we just heading to be kicked to the control?” Robinson asks.
“If you will not have a legitimate ticket, and you happen to be on the secured side and refuse to go away then you are likely to be arrested,” the officer says.
A lady later on recognized by The Tennessean as Shelley Morrison, Amani’s mother, then issues the officer for extra facts. She explains she’s an legal professional, and is in search of much more specifics about the lawful jurisdiction for the arrest menace.
“Correct now Southwest is contacting us for the reason that you guys are congregated right here, and they’re striving to shut that gate, and we’re telling you your information is at the ticket counter,” the officer responds. “You should go to the ticket counter, outside of the secured zone.”
Southwest Airlines did not straight away react to Insider’s request to comment about the officer’s statements.
In a followup online video posted by Amani Robinson, the law enforcement officer strategies her household at a diverse gate immediately after they have relocated. He once more tells them to leave, but Morrison attempts to reveal that Southwest sent them updated data about their flight.
“Just for clarity, is it customary for the police to halt most people to examine their tickets? Why was I singled out to check my tickets and what was the purpose?” Morrison asks the officer.
“Simply because of our come across from before, I have sensible suspicion to believe that your tickets have been canceled and you were recommended to leave the safe facet,” he responds.
“I am not the only one, you mentioned it to everybody in that line, and there are other witnesses and it is really videotaped,” Morrison responds. “But I will no more time argue with you about it, I will go to the future location, the ticket counter, but I do have details about your badge, your name, your conduct, and your misconduct.”
The plight of Robinson’s relatives and her fellow travellers drew the interest of quite a few on social media, which include 2020 congressional candidate Lindsey Simmons.
Simmons reposted the online video and tagged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a get in touch with to action.
—Lindsey Simmons (@LynzforCongress) December 28, 2022
Nashville Global Airport did not instantly respond to Insider’s ask for to remark on the position of the law enforcement officer, or if any likely disciplinary motion was taken. He reportedly performs for Nashville Worldwide Airport’s Office of Community Protection.
In a statement produced Wednesday after the videos have been posted, the Nashville International Airport claimed Southwest Airways “contacted the Airport Communications Center asking that a law enforcement officer be dispatched to C-concourse, Gate C-7/9, to escort travellers to the pre-protection ticketing counters.”
“We realize and appreciate the frustrations travelers may possibly have, and we are doing work to present the best passenger practical experience for all,” the airport said.
The statement was seemingly eradicated from Twitter as of Friday afternoon.
