United Airlines gate agent punched in face, passenger arrested

Video shared on X shows the gate agent hitting the floor after taking a punch to the face. Police arrested Christopher Stuart Crittenden, 54, of Frederick, Md.

  • The passenger has been banned from flying United
  • Christopher Stuart Crittenden, 54, was arrested 
  • Video of the assault was posted to social media

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Police said an airline passenger faces charges after he punched a United Airlines gate agent Thursday night.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police officers responded to the incident at Gate D12 at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

That’s where they say Christopher Stuart Crittenden, 54, of Frederick, Md. assaulted the United Airlines gate agent. Members of the airport authority’s fire and rescue department took the gate agent to the hospital for treatment.

Someone who was at the gate posted a video of the encounter on the X platform. The video shows a man punching the gate agent in the face, dropping him to the floor. The post on X states: “Angry guy at Dulles airport tries to get on a fully booked plane and knocks out the flight agent.”

Crittenden faces charges of assault and disorderly conduct.

United Media Relations provided NewsNation affiliate DCNewsNow.com with a statement that said, in part: “The passenger involved has been banned from future travel on United.”

U.S.

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