Spirit Airlines Fiasco Triggers Chaos And Attempted Murder

In a startling turn, an Ohio resident was charged with attempted first-degree murder after placing a police officer in a dangerous chokehold at Tuesday’s bustling Orlando International Airport. Edward Hariston, 41, stands accused of his actions causing a ripple of terror amid already heightened tensions at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter.

Law enforcement was summoned following reports of a mob of passengers yelling at Spirit employees near the ticket counter, as per an affidavit filed with the court charges. As the situation unfolded, chaos ensued, resulting in a potentially deadly showdown between Hariston and the responding officers.

Upon police arrival at the airport’s Spirit Airlines ticket counter, several groups were spotted shouting at the staff, with some passengers breaching the counter space. During the commotion, Hariston reportedly attacked an employee, triggering a swift response from the officers on duty. His companion, a woman, was noticed standing on the baggage scales, hurling offensive language at the staff while this unfolded.

The drama escalated when Hariston snatched a computer keyboard and began tapping erratically on it. A law enforcement officer, aiming to prevent damage, grabbed Hariston’s arm. In a shocking retort, Hariston grappled with the officer’s arm, initiating a struggle that quickly took a dangerous turn. The video of this incident shared on TikTok shows Hariston gaining the upper hand and locking the officer in a chokehold, rendering the officer momentarily breathless and close to losing consciousness.

Onlookers watched in disbelief, with a woman heard screaming in the background as Hariston and the officer wrestled on the ground. It wasn’t until the arrival of backup officers that the distressed cop was liberated from Hariston’s chokehold.

“Hariston put one of his arms around my neck in a chokehold and began to squeeze, restricting my airway, making it unable for me to breathe,” the cop shared in a sobering statement. The officer noted experiencing dizziness and impaired vision as Hariston’s hold restricted his airflow, leading to a loss of consciousness.

After the altercation, Hariston was arrested and taken to the hospital for evaluation. He now faces a string of charges, including attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, and disorderly conduct.

The incident generated a flurry of responses on social media. The TikTok user who recorded the shocking scenes captioned their video with, “Just witnessed a guy take down a cop at the airport, we flying spirit, our flight got cancelled bro, ain’t having it.” The comment section filled quickly, with one user stating, “Never flying with Spirit again,” while another lambasted the airline, saying, “This is the craziest s–t ever! You should be ashamed of yourselves @Spirit Airlines.”

Spirit Airlines, already infamous for its customer service, will have to shoulder the reputational damage caused by this unfortunate incident. As the dust settles, passengers and staff alike are left with a stark reminder of how quickly tension can escalate into dangerous conflict, especially in high-stress environments like airports.