This is the shocking moment a senior South African television boss throws her drink at a flight attendant before removing her wig and fighting with other passengers.
Telephone footage of the FlySafair flight from Durban to Cape Town on Boxing Day shows the passenger arguing furiously with the flight attendant while leaning against a window seat.
As the assistant approaches the television executive with plastic handcuffs while telling her to “listen to me,” the passenger can be seen shouting at him before grabbing the restraints and throwing them on the seat.
But the explosion in the air quickly began to spiral as a traveler sitting behind the unruly passenger reached out to help the flight attendant restrain her.
The brand manager for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) shifts in her seat and tells the couple “you can’t do this” before throwing her drink in the flight attendant’s face.
Sounds of shock and disbelief echo around the plane and the clip cuts to the moment the passenger stands up from her seat and shoves another flight attendant while shouting: “Back up, back up.”
The push turns into a chaotic flight, involving several passengers trying to push the television executive back into her seat.
Two male passengers finally manage to grab her by the wrists as the flight attendant struggles to hold her down.
Images captured the moment when a rebellious passenger threw her drink at a flight attendant
Passengers could be seen trying to push the woman back into her seat after she went on a dramatic tirade.
But the FlySafair employee fails when the television director rises from his seat again and shouts: “Who are you?” to the passengers sitting behind her.
Then, in a bizarre twist, the furious aviator rips off her blonde wig as she continues her dramatic rant from her chair.
A man sitting next to her can be heard telling passengers behind them to stop touching her, while also repeatedly demanding the woman “calm down.”
His tirade appears to come to an end when he sits back down in his seat after returning the restraints to the stewardess, but he gives one last ferocious scream at the worker before sitting back down.
Chaos reportedly broke out when the flight crew refused to serve the passenger any more alcohol.
According News24a South African news website, the passenger was arrested and charged with disruptive and riotous behavior on board the flight.
She was handed over to police when the plane landed in Cape Town.
But speaking to the media outlet, the passenger denied claims that she was under the influence of alcohol when she boarded the flight, stating that she and her boyfriend were traveling to Cape Town for New Year’s Eve.
A man next to her repeatedly told her to “calm down” as she ripped off her wig.
“We checked in and then decided to go to the slow lounge, and then in the slow lounge, we had a quick meal and had a drink, which was whiskey,” he said.
‘We realized we were delayed, so we went and boarded the plane. “When we got on the plane I wasn’t drunk, I was sober as a judge.”
She claims the altercation broke out when cabin crew approached to offer refreshments.
According to the passenger, she had asked the flight attendant what kind of cold drinks they had, but when the worker said they didn’t have two of her options, the flyer said the crew member started to ‘get upset with me.’
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) says it has received a full report from the airline that will be used for future investigations, according to South African newspaper The daily voice.
SACAA aviation director Poppy Khoza condemned the incident and said passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate or interfere with cabin crew members are violating the Civil Aviation Act and, if found guilty, could face up to six months in prison.
Local media reported that the passenger now plans to sue the airline.
Following the incident, FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gorden said: “We condemn any behavior of this nature.
‘Flight attendants have the primary duty as security officers and interfering with their duties is a criminal offence.
“This passenger will be placed on our no-fly list and will not be welcome on future FlySafair flights.”