Spirit Airlines cancels flight, passenger brawl breaks out

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Screams and commotion took over Fort Lauderdale's airport Monday as travelers clashed with Spirit Airlines employees and police.

About 300 Spirit flights have been canceled over the past seven days, leaving thousands of passengers angry. The airline says its own pilots are behind the cancellations and is suing them in federal court.

Passengers across the country faced hours-long delays and flight cancellations for days. By Monday night, some travelers in Florida had enough.

The front ticket counter at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport turned into chaos, and Broward County deputies stepped in to try restore the peace between passengers and airline employees.

Travelers stormed off an airplane after their flight was canceled and swarmed the ticket counter, where dozens of passengers were already waiting in line, passengers told CNN.

"Everyone was already aggravated about flight delays and the ridiculousness of standing in such a long line for hours, which Spirit Airlines did nothing to help, and then in walks these people off their flight raising a ruckus (and) cussing and screaming and they went straight to the counter," passenger Cindy Matthews Beard told CNN.

Video footage shows deputies struggling with travelers. Some were pulled aside from the crowd, while others were taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs. Three passengers were taken into custody, according to Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Spirit travelers stuck at O'Hare

The Spirit cancellations also stranded passengers in Chicago. After checking their flight status over and over, many travelers came to O'Hare International Airport Tuesday morning, only to find out their flights were canceled. They said airline workers are not a big help.

"We're trying to get it straightened out right now. I'm ready to go," said Ken Crawford, a Spirit passenger, who hoped to get on a flight Tuesday.

Victoria Francis and her friends were trying to get to New Orleans, but got stuck in Chicago.

"We went to check our bag in and they said our flight was canceled. Of course, we were stunned because we had no idea," Francis said.

Spirit travelers at O'Hare said they don't care who is to blame - they just wanted some direction and to get to their destinations.

Chandan Pokerna had been trying since Monday to get home to her children in Houston.

"I'm hoping that today it will take off. I have two middle school kids waiting there. It's so frustrating," Pokerna said.

Spirit started to get things back on track at O'Hare before 11 a.m.

A Spirit spokesperson released a statement that said, in part, "We are working hard to re-accommodate all impacted customers and apologize for any inconvenience."

Lawsuit: Pilot shortage leads to cancellations

Spirit Airlines spokesman Paul Berry said the company was "shocked and saddened" to see the events at the Ft. Lauderdale airport and blamed its pilots.

"These pilots have put their quest for a new contract ahead of getting customers to their destinations and the safety of their fellow Spirit Team Members," Berry said in a statement.

In a federal lawsuit, the airline says cancellations have been caused by pilot unavailability and is accusing the pilots' union -- the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA) -- of orchestrating an unlawful slowdown.

Spirit canceled 81 flights on Sunday alone, according to the lawsuit, comprising approximately 17% of the carrier's scheduled flights for the day. They estimate that about 20,000 customers have been affected since the cancellations began last week.

The ALPA denied carrying out a slowdown in a statement to CNN.

"Rather, ALPA and the Spirit pilots are continuing to do everything possible to help restore the company's operations, which have experienced significant problems over the past several days," a spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.

Contract dispute

The airline says pilots are turning down "open time" flights and last minute assignments that would make them earn twice their pay. In the lawsuit, the airline claims union members have engaged in a campaign threatening and intimidating other pilots who accept last-minute assignments.

The union leaders were already anticipating legal action Friday. In a message to members, leaders said the airline believed the union was behind the shortage of pilots and encouraged them to work.

"Simply put, pilots who want to pick up open time should do so and not be questioned," the message said.

These tensions don't come as a surprise.

Since 2015, the airline and the pilots union have been part of several formal and informal contract negotiations but they have not reached an agreement.

Last year, groups of pilots picketed at the Dallas airport and outside the airline's headquarters in Miramar, Florida.

WLS-TV contributed to this report.

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