On August 1, 2024, a Frontier Airlines pilot was arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, just before he was scheduled to fly an aircraft to Dallas Fort Worth. The pilot, identified as Seymour Walker, was taken into custody on an assault-family violence warrant issued by the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Department of Public Safety.
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The arrest occurred around 4 p.m. as passengers were preparing to board the plane for Flight 3195, which was scheduled to travel from Houston to Dallas Fort Worth. Due to the absence of an immediate replacement crew member, Frontier Airlines was forced to cancel the flight. Affected passengers were offered several options, including a full refund, flight credit, or re-accommodation on the next available Frontier flight later that evening. Additionally, the airline provided a $100 flight voucher and overnight hotel accommodations as necessary.
The incident was captured on video, which began circulating on social media, showing police officers escorting the pilot off the airplane in handcuffs. The video was viewed over 500,000 times by Sunday, August 4, 2024. Frontier Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement to CBS News on Saturday, August 3, 2024. "The activity occurred prior to the start of boarding for Flight 3195 scheduled from IAH to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)," the statement read.
This incident comes just days after another Frontier Airlines flight made headlines when a woman was caught on camera hurling a computer at Frontier staff after missing her flight in Chicago. The video, which was posted on social media, showed the woman stepping over the counter at the bag drop, accosting staff members, and throwing a computer at one of them. The Houston Airports System also confirmed the arrest in a brief statement, saying, "HPD officers assigned at George Bush Intercontinental Airport were advised by law enforcement in Dallas/Forth Worth that the suspect, a pilot, was aboard a plane at a specific gate about 4 p.m. on Thursday (Aug. 1)." The incident has sparked discussions on social media about the safety and security of air travel, as well as the importance of addressing issues related to family violence.