SkyWest flight attendants' clash delays trip by two hours

August 2024 · 3 minute read

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A SkyWest flight from Los Angeles to Houston was stuck on the runway for two hours after a pair of staffers furiously argued in front of passengers about whether to let someone in first class switch seats with someone in coach.

The incident was caught on video and posted on Tuesday on TikTok by ESPN anchor Ashley Brewer, who was on the flight as she and other passengers looked on in disbelief.

The video, backed by the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme, shows a male and female flight attendant bickering about the passengers’ request to switch seats so one of them could sit next to her husband.

Brewer said that while the male flight attendant approved the change, his coworker told him it was against SkyWest’s policy, sparking the debate.

“They kept bickering and going back and forth in the middle of the aisle about the rules, and what was right and what was wrong,” Brewer said before both flight attendants were asked to leave the plane and replaced with more amicable staffers.

ESPN anchor Ashley Brewer posted a video on TikTok showing how a dispute between flight attendants delayed her flight by two hours. TikTok/@ashleyebrewer
The two flight attendants were bickering over whether or not to allow passengers to switch seats. TikTok/@ashleyebrewer

Brewer, who comically filmed herself eating popcorn as she looked on, added that the male flight attendant began yelling at the female worker at one point, prompting her to cry and run towards the front of the plane.

The video shows the male flight attendant was the first to go, but about an hour later and still no word on take off, the female coworker is then seen exiting the plane, too.

“So then we just sat down and waited and waited and waited,” said Brewer of the incident, which she called “petty.”

“‘And it was a whole big thing. They had the flight crew come on, the pilots came out and tried to talk through [it]. It was such an ordeal. And I’m so glad it’s over.” 

Both of the flight attendants were eventually replaced with substitutes. TikTok/@ashleyebrewer
SkyWest apologized in a statement and said it was investigating the incident. TikTok/@ashleyebrewer

Despite the headaches from the flight delay, Brewer noted that the replacement crew on the flight were “sweet” and helped passengers look past the incident.

Reflecting on the situation on Twitter, Brewer wrote: “What is wrong with this world?!! It gets nuttier by the day.”

SkyWest said in a statement that it was aware of the incident and has launched an investigation into the matter.

“We regret the delay this caused for our passengers and apologize for any inconvenience. We hold all our employees to the highest standards of professionalism and are conducting an internal investigation related to this flight.” 

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