A heated altercation between two American women on a British Airways flight led to a significant delay and their removal from the plane by police. The dispute, which began at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday afternoon, was reportedly sparked by one woman’s refusal to remove a red “Make America Great Again” hat, a symbol associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The women, one in her 40s and the other in her 60s, were waiting to board a flight to Austin, Texas when the disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation. The incident resulted in a delay of over two hours for the flight.
The argument continued into the plane’s cabin, where both women were seated in the premium economy section. The severity of the situation led the captain to call for police assistance. An insider described the incident as “extraordinary,” noting that the crew could not risk a full-scale fight at 30,000 feet.
Upon arrival, London’s Metropolitan Police escorted the women off the plane from Terminal 5 as they continued to exchange heated words. While neither woman was arrested, both were interviewed by police following claims of affray. The Metropolitan Police stated that the investigation is ongoing.
The flight eventually departed for Texas without the two women on board. A source revealed that British Airways officials could not recall a previous instance of a flight being delayed due to a passenger’s choice of headwear.
The source also suggested that the incident could be a reflection of heightened tensions surrounding the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. British Airways issued a statement apologizing to its customers for the unusual delay, assuring them that they were working to get them on their way as quickly as possible.