By Greg Wehner
A woman was caught on video during a disruptive incident at the Southwest Airlines concourse at Orlando International Airport last week.
The individual, identified as 45-year-old Selomit Velez-Rodriguez, was filmed by passenger Peyton Turbeville as she shouted profanities at Southwest employees. In the video, Velez-Rodriguez can be heard yelling, “Are you kidding me?” multiple times, and expressing frustration over her travel situation. She told staff she was trying to attend her brother’s funeral.
Wearing a red long-sleeve shirt, shorts, a backpack, and a baseball cap, Velez-Rodriguez appears to kick a Southwest employee during the altercation, prompting shocked reactions from nearby travelers. One bystander is heard saying, “Oh, that’s assault.”
The video shows her striking a computer monitor several times while continuing to vent her frustration, saying, “Two flights wasted… two flights, three planes, after 45 minutes.” She also asked others to call the police as she followed a Southwest employee through the terminal.
Turbeville told media outlet Storyful that Velez-Rodriguez had missed out on standby spots for three flights, although this has not been officially confirmed. Turbeville also claimed the woman attempted to enter a gate after it had already closed, and staff asked her to stop.
Orlando Police confirmed they were called to the scene around 9:30 p.m. According to police, witnesses said Velez-Rodriguez tried to interfere with the boarding process, assaulted an employee, and caused over $1,000 in damage to airport equipment.
She was arrested and charged with battery, criminal mischief, and resisting an officer without violence. Court records indicate she posted a $5,000 bond and has since returned to her home in Illinois.