Berlin, September 18 – A 22-year-old passenger is facing charges of attempted manslaughter after allegedly brutally assaulting a ground staff employee at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on Tuesday. The incident, described by an airport employee as “scenes like in a horror film,” occurred after the passenger was denied boarding a flight.
Brutal Assault at BER Airport
The 22-year-old Estonian national, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, arrived late at the gate for an Air Baltic flight to Tallinn. When a 48-year-old Swissport ground staff member denied him boarding, the passenger allegedly unleashed a violent attack. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect continuing to strike the victim even after he was defenseless on the ground for several minutes.
A colleague of the victim and other waiting passengers attempted to intervene, but a 36-year-old companion of the attacker allegedly prevented them from helping the injured employee, according to the “Märkische Allgemeine.” Federal police and airport security quickly arrived at the scene and took the 22-year-old into custody.
Victim Suffers Severe Injuries
The 48-year-old victim sustained serious injuries, including a fractured cheekbone and other bone fractures, as reported by the “Berliner Zeitung.” Fortunately, his eyesight was saved, and he has since been released from intensive care.
In response to the incident, the Verdi trade union has expressed concerns about an increase in violence against BER employees. Swissport has reportedly registered nearly 200 verbal and physical attacks on staff this year. However, the airport disputes this assessment, categorizing physical assaults as “very rare isolated cases.”
Attempted Manslaughter Charges Issued
Following the arrest, an arrest warrant for attempted manslaughter was issued against the 22-year-old suspect, according to a police spokesperson. The investigation into the full extent of the incident is ongoing.
Context of Airport Violence
This incident highlights growing concerns about passenger behavior and the safety of airport staff. Airlines and airports are increasingly grappling with unruly passengers, leading to calls for stricter measures and increased protection for employees who often bear the brunt of passenger frustration.
The incident at BER follows a general trend of increased aggression towards service personnel across various sectors. Unions and employee representatives are advocating for greater awareness and more robust security protocols to ensure the well-being of their members.
Authorities at BER are expected to review their security procedures and potentially implement additional measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The airport management maintains that the safety of both passengers and staff remains a top priority.
Source: https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/international/passagier-soll-flughafenmitarbeiter-minutenlang-verpruegelt-haben-li.3604154
