By Chantal Da Silva -
NBC News
Several passengers confronted police after a fight broke out at Miami International Airport on Monday night, according to authorities.
After the incident,
two people were arrested.
The confrontation began after police were knocked on door H8 shortly after 6:30 pm for a disturbance related to a delayed flight, Miami-Dade police told NBC Miami.
Officers found an
“unruly passenger”
who appeared to have taken the keys to an airport golf cart and who, according to police, was refusing to let a worker out.
In a video shared on social media, a large crowd can be seen surrounding
an officer who appears to have his arm around a man's neck
in apparent suffocation.
At least two people start to intervene, apparently trying to free the man from the agent's grasp while onlookers yell and catch the fight on their cell phones.
Once released, the man appears to be chasing the agent, hitting him multiple times.
Right away, the officer can be seen backing away, before appearing to pull out a weapon, prompting another person in the crowd to raise their hand in an apparent attempt to defuse the situation.
[Accidental discharge of a firearm causes panic at Atlanta airport and causes flight delays]
It is not clear what exactly happened at the times leading up to the scuffle, and the circumstances in which the officer drew the weapon are under investigation, Miami-Dade police said.
The authorities added that
two people were detained after the incident,
although they have not provided information about their identities or the possible charges they could face.
A fight between multiple people and a police officer at Miami International Airport on December 20, 2021 Courtesy of Mike Majlak
"Like airports across the country, (Miami International Airport) is seeing a record number of passengers this winter travel season," the airport's director and CEO said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, this passenger growth has been accompanied by a
record nationwide increase in misbehavior as well
, such as the incident tonight," he added.
[They detect a stowaway in flight from Guatemala that landed at the Miami airport, according to reports]
"Disruptive passengers face police arrest, civil penalties of up to $ 37,000, a flying ban and possible federal prosecution," Cutié warned.
“Please travel responsibly by arriving at the airport well in advance, being patient, complying with federal mask law and with airport personnel, limiting your alcohol consumption, and notifying the police at the first sign of misbehavior by calling to 911, "he added.
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