Passenger Eugenio who had recently undergone a hair transplant, boarded an American Airlines flight from Miami to Las Vegas with a visibly bleeding scalp. ✈️
Despite repeated requests from the airline crew to address his condition and deboard the plane, he refused!
The Cause of the Commotion: Medical Concerns and Passenger Complaints
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC News, American Airlines staff requested that he clean the wound and replace the bandage,
as they were concerned about potential blood contamination and his medical condition.
However, Hernandez-Garnier informed them that he had no clean bandages available.
Despite repeated requests from the American Airlines supervisor to deboard the flight, Hernandez-Garnier refused. The airline crew, worried about the bleeding and the potential health risks to other passengers, insisted that he disembark.
His refusal led to the involvement of law enforcement.
Social Media Escalation: Live Streaming the Incident
As the situation unfolded, Hernandez-Garnier’s wife, Yusleydis Loyola Blanca, who had also undergone medical procedures including a breast lift and liposuction, began live-streaming the incident on TikTok.
Thousands watched as she expressed her distress in Spanish, accusing the airline staff of discrimination and mistreatment.
The video captured the tense moments as officers restrained Hernandez-Garnier, who screamed in pain, while Loyola yelled at the officers, insisting her husband had just undergone surgery.
Legal Defense and Disputes
Michael Iglesia, the attorney representing the couple, disputed the claims that Hernandez-Garnier was actively bleeding.
He stated that the blood on his head was dry and that the couple had a doctor’s note authorizing them to fly.
They had even been granted priority boarding due to their medical conditions. According to Iglesia, the issue arose because other passengers were uncomfortable with Hernandez-Garnier’s appearance.
After about 20 minutes of sitting in their seats, the situation escalated when passengers complained, leading to the couple being asked to leave the flight.
However, they refused, which resulted in the entire plane being deboarded and the flight being delayed until the following day.
Airline Response: Disruption and Apology
American Airlines issued a statement regarding the incident, noting that the couple had become disruptive and non-compliant with crew member instructions.
“Law enforcement responded and removed both customers from the aircraft,” the airline stated. “We thank our crewmembers for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”
Consequences: Arrest and Charges
Following the incident, both Hernandez-Garnier and Loyola were arrested and are now facing charges of trespassing and resisting an officer without violence.