Two passengers were apprehended at Miami International Airport (MIA) on Sunday following a violent altercation. The couple, identified as Rafael Seirafe-Novaes, 41, and Beatriz Rapoport De Campos Maia, 29, had arrived late for their flight to Cancún, Mexico and attempted to board by force.
A video of the incident, shared on the Instagram account Only in Dade, shows the couple struggling with airport staff. One of them is seen throwing a cup of coffee in the face of an American Airlines employee during their aggressive attempt to board the missed flight.
The couple had arrived late for American Airlines flight 2494, scheduled to depart from Miami at 9:01 am and arrive in Cancún at 10:56 am. Their actions resulted in the flight departing at 9:10 am and arriving at 11:22 am.
The situation escalated to the point where at least six officers from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO) were required to intervene. The officers subdued and arrested the couple. Seirafe-Novaes is now facing charges for resisting an officer without violence and trespassing, while Maia has been charged with two counts of assault and trespassing.
A spokesperson for Miami International Airport confirmed to NBC6 that the assaulted employee worked for American Airlines. The airline issued a statement saying, "American Airlines does not tolerate acts of violence and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in the investigation".
The couple, who are Brazilian, spoke with CBS News after their arrest. They have been accused of assault and trespassing for allegedly ignoring "No Trespassing" signs on the boarding bridge. Maia denied throwing the coffee, claiming it was all a misunderstanding.
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