A Frontier Airlines pilot was arrested just before takeoff at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, leading to the cancellation of the flight.
Seymour Walker, 45, was wanted in North Texas on an assault-family violence warrant, according to local police.
Videos showing police escorting the handcuffed pilot off the plane circulated on social media, garnering over 500,000 views by Sunday. The video was posted by user @aviationbrk on Saturday and captured the moment he was led down the aircraft steps to a police vehicle.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that the International Airport Department of Public Safety issued the warrant, resulting in Walker’s arrest on Thursday afternoon. He has since been released on bond.
Frontier Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement to CBS News. “On August 1, 2024, a crew member was taken into custody at George Bush Intercontinental Airport before boarding for Flight 3195 to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW),” the statement read. “A replacement crew member was not immediately available, so the flight was canceled. Affected customers were offered full refunds, credits, or rebooking options for later flights.”
The airline also provided passengers with a $100 flight voucher and, if needed, overnight accommodations.
In a related incident, footage from Tuesday showcased a woman throwing a computer at Frontier staff in Chicago after missing her flight. The video captured her jumping over the bag drop counter, with a staff member attempting to restrain her as she yelled and threw a keyboard at him. This footage, initially shared on TikTok by user @cindyhalasova, was later reposted on X by @Chicago_Goofies, gaining over 74,000 views by Sunday.
Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, is known for its low-cost services, but it’s also noted for having one of the lowest customer satisfaction ratings among American carriers according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Larry MacDougal/ASSOCIATED PRESS