Two sisters traveling to Dublin Airport (DUB) were arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) after they went into a meltdown over a flight delay.
The spectacle was captured on video by a fellow traveler, who uploaded the clip on social media platform TikTok, where it had already received over 720,000 views.
The beginning of the clip shows the two sisters consoling each other after finding out that their flight was delayed.
The sisters can be seen sobbing and hugging each other, with one of them suggesting that they leave the airport and take the subway. The other sister indignantly says, “We’re going to Dublin!”
The next clip shows the two sisters at Gate B56, confronting Aer Lingus staff. While the words are incoherent, interjections of “Right now!” can be heard.
At one point, one of the sisters places her hand in her sister’s mouth to prevent her from shouting further, while a staff member looks on.
When they couldn’t get the response that they hoped for from airline staff, the sisters turned to fellow passengers, looking for allies, speaking incoherently, and at one point, one can be heard saying “The police are coming for my sister!”
On the video, a security officer can be seen trying to pacify the sisters, but the yelling continues.
The last clip shows two police officers, each grappling with a sister as they were being arrested.
The sisters were described as ‘intoxicated’ by a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey .
“Officers made attempts to de-escalate the situation, but the women disregarded their instructions,” authorities told the Daily Dot.
One sister was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, while the other received a criminal summons for disorderly conduct.
According to the video uploader, the sisters identified themselves as a lawyer and a nurse.
The phenomenon of passenger rage has been linked not only to stress and anxiety caused by traveling, but also to drinking at airport bars when flights are delayed.