Delta bans passenger for life after pro-Trump rant

A disruptive passenger on Delta Air Lines has been banned from the carrier for life, after an incident captured on video in which he yelled profanities at other passengers while voicing his support for President-elect Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump, baby,” the man shouted to other passengers on the plane as he stood and clapped. “We got some Hillary ... on here? Come on, baby. Trump!”

The incident was captured on video during Delta Flight 248 from Atlanta to Allentown, Pa., last Tuesday, and posted to Facebook by a passenger on the flight. The video, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, contains explicit language.

“Donald Trump is your president, every ... one of you,” the man said. “If you don’t like it, too bad.”

One man appeared to support him. But other passengers in the video appeared uncomfortable during the man’s outburst.

“This individual displayed behavior that was loud, rude and disrespectful to his fellow customers,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a memo to employees, while not identifying the passenger. “After questioning the customer, our team members made the best decision they could given the information they had and allowed him to remain on the flight.”

“However, if our colleagues had witnessed firsthand what was shown in the video, there is no question they would have removed him from the aircraft,” Bastian wrote.

“He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane,” Bastian added.

Delta said it has apologized to customers on the flight and is refunding the cost of their tickets.

“The heightened tension in our society means that now more than ever we must require civility on our planes and in our facilities,” Bastian wrote to employees.

Kelly Yamanouchi writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.