Row over empty seat turns violent on Pacific flight, EVA crew given medical care

A seating dispute turned violent on a transpacific flight to San Francisco. Photo / X, Alex Pierce

United States airport police were called to meet two men on a flight from Taiwan after a row over an empty plane seat.

The EVA Air flight from Taipei to San Francisco on Tuesday erupted over what was reportedly a misunderstanding over seating.

A passenger took exception to his seatmate’s coughing. The man, “uncomfortable” at being near the sick traveller, reportedly moved into what he assumed was an empty seat, according to TVBS News. He assumed wrongly.

A video clip shared to X (Twitter) shows the seat’s owner, in a white T-shirt emerging from the plane’s toilet. Incensed to find someone else in his seat, he comes after the other man, swinging punches.

Cabin crew intervened, trying to restrain the passenger. Then the man in the wrong seat attempted to hit back. He was stopped by a third cabin crew member who put herself between the two fighting passengers.

“[I was] so afraid that the stewardess will be punched,” said Alex Pierce, who shared the clip to social media.

I’m so afraid that the stewardess will be punched🫣

There was a conflict on the Evergreen flight to San Francisco! Eva Air

"Passengers fight each other over seats" stewardess bravely breaks up the fight pic.twitter.com/6l9IpzhCNM

— Alex Pierce (@AlexNewsweekly) May 8, 2024

Loud screams can be heard in the video from other passengers, and several get to their feet in confusion.

The bystander to the fight on Flight BR08 praised the bravery of the stewardess in breaking up the fight.

The two men were handed over to US law enforcement on arrival in California.

Eva Air said that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards unruly passengers and praised the crew for their quick intervention.

The Straits Times reported that flight staff received medical checks after trading blows with the passengers, and the airline said they would be rewarded for their brave conduct.