United Flight Attendant Charged with Battery Following Reported Shoulder Touch Incident at Airport

A flight attendant from United Airlines has been charged with battery following a conflict with a Cayman Airways customer service representative at Tampa International Airport. The event took place on March 8, 2025, but attracted media attention once police body camera footage was made public. The confrontation started on an employee bus when the Cayman Airways representative was speaking loudly on the phone, a behavior deemed disrespectful by the United worker. The situation intensified with verbal exchanges, and the flight attendant reportedly tapped the representative on the shoulder, resulting in the battery charge under Florida law, which classifies any unwanted contact as battery. This case brings into question the fairness of Florida’s battery legislation.