by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:50 AM ET, Mon March 17, 2025
A United Airlines gate agent was punched unconscious by a Maryland passenger during boarding at Washington Dulles International Airport late last week, prompting the passenger’s arrest.
The incident happened in the evening of Thursday, March 13. The video below is original reporting by local station FOX 5, which details the incident, which was captured on video by another passenger.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority stated: "Around 5:30 p.m. on March 13, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police responded to Gate D12 at Dulles International Airport, where a passenger punched a United Airlines gate agent. Christopher Stuart Crittenden, age 54, of Frederick, Maryland, was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. The Airports Authority’s fire and rescue department transported the gate agent to a local hospital."
According further reporting, Crittenden punched the gate agent because he was mad that his original flight had been cancelled and he had been placed in a middle seat on his new flight. There is cause to believe alcohol also played a factor in the man’s violence.
The MWAA promptly arrested Crittenden, who is now charged with assault and disorderly conduct. He has also been placed on United Airline's no-fly list. The gate agent was taken to the hospital for care.
The agent’s union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union (IAM Union), was quick to comment and call for stricter regulations curbing this growing violent behavior towards frontline airport workers.
“Our members deserve a workplace where they can focus on providing excellent customer service—not one where they fear being attacked by passengers. This latest incident is yet another example of the unacceptable rise in violence against frontline airline workers, and immediate action is needed to address it,” said Brian Bryant, the union’s International President and Richie Johnsen, IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President in a joint statement. “...The Department of Justice has the authority to take action, and we urge immediate enforcement of existing statutes to deter future assaults.”
“The IAM Union, representing over 100,000 airline workers, including customer service agents, ramp workers, aircraft technicians, stock clerks and flight attendants, calls on FAA to take action and implement the stronger safety standards that recently passed under the current FAA reauthorization. These standards include employee assault prevention and response plan standards.”
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