Southwest Passenger Assaults Woman, Removed on Gurney

Leanna Perry, a Brooklyn-based artist, caused chaos on a Southwest Airlines flight from New York's LaGuardia to Kansas City by launching a violent, intoxicated tirade, verbally abusing a fellow passenger over her weight before physically assaulting her by pulling her hair and spitting. Despite intervention attempts, Perry refused to release the victim and continued to insult others, resisting restraint until police removed her from the flight on a gurney. Perry was subsequently charged with aggravated assault. Videos of the altercation went viral, sparking renewed debate about in-flight safety and the challenges faced by airline crews. Southwest Airlines praised its crew's professionalism during the incident. The event has also been contrasted with a separate viral moment involving a Delta flight attendant compassionately assisting a passenger with anxiety, highlighting the diverse challenges airline staff confront.