Drunk Breeze Airways passenger yells racial slurs, breaks free from restraints twice before he’s manhandled by fellow flyer
ByRichard Pollina
Published Aug. 14, 2025, 1:32 a.m. ET
586 Comments
Drunk Breeze Airways passenger breaks free twice, shouts slurs before takedown
A drunk Breeze Airways passenger allegedly spewed racial slurs at staff, broke out of restraints twice and aggressively waved a skateboard as he forced an emergency landing on board an LA-bound flight.
David Leroy Carter, a 46-year-old Los Angeles resident, was taken into custody by Colorado police on Wednesday afternoon after he “became agitated” four hours into his flight out of Norfolk, Virginia, according to NBC Los Angeles.
The Grand Junction Police Department said airline staff had placed the “intoxicated” passenger in restraints twice during the flight, but “he managed to break free both times” during his profanity-laced tirade around 11:15 a.m.
4An intoxicated passenger aboard an LA-bound Breeze flight, who police said was yelling racist slurs at staff and waving a skateboard around, was arrested after the flight was diverted to Grand Junction.Liz Reilly
Breeze Flight MX704 was diverted to Grand Junction Airport in Colorado, according to FlightAware.
Upon landing, Carter was arrested and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility.
“This is an ongoing investigation and any further information and charges will be released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the department wrote in a statement.
Startling footage of the midair chaos posted to TikTok shows a flight attendant appearing to try to restrain Carter with plastic zip-ties, only for him to push past and stand face to face with the worker.
“That’s the last thing you’re going to do to me,” he’s heard telling the flight attendant.
“Stop! You need to sit down!” she demanded while Carter smirked and replied, “No, ma’am.”
The flight attendant asked other passengers and workers to help her “get control” of the situation and help restrain Carter.
4Footage of the midair chaos posted to TikTok shows a flight attendant appearing to try to restrain Carter with plastic zip-ties, only for him to push past and get face to face with her.TikTok/@mysaltylove_
4The suspect is seen being physically put back in his seat by another passenger.TikTok/@mysaltylove_
Seconds later, a large man in a white T-shirt walks over to Carter, towering over him.
The flyer picks up Carter under the arms with ease, carries him like a child through the plane’s aisle and plants him down in his seat.
“Sit your ass down,” the good Samaritan scolds.
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Police reported no injuries during the midair bedlam, but Breeze Airways told NBC Los Angeles that “one flight attendant and one guest were evaluated for minor injuries.”
“Our focus now is on taking care of our Crew and remaining Guests who have been unfairly inconvenienced by this unfortunate event and getting them safely to their final destination as quickly as possible,” the airline said.
4The unruly passenger was taken into custody by police at the direction of the FBI and taken to the Mesa County Detention Facility.Christopher Sadowski
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The FBI said charges will be submitted to the US Attorney’s Office for Colorado, but did not share what charges Carter is facing.
The Post has reached out to the FBI and Breeze Airways for comment.
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