ORLANDO, Florida -- An intoxicated man was pepper-sprayed at Orlando International Airport Sunday after fighting with a JetBlue employee, according to police.

  • Drunk passenger pepper-sprayed at Orlando airport
  • Officials said he fought with a JetBlue employee
  • Orlando police took the man into custody

Brandon Strong, 45, was waiting near Gate 3 for his 6:45 p.m  flight to Salt Lake City, which had been delayed until 8:51 p.m.

Strong reportedly began harassing one of the nearby passengers, calling the woman a c-word, according to a police incident report. Witnesses said Strong was upset because his flight was delayed.

A JetBlue employee then told Strong that he wasn't going to be able to travel on the plane. Strong got upset and approached the closed gate door and said that he was 'f---ing traveling." The JetBlue employee once again told Strong he couldn't travel.

Strong then pushed the JetBlue employee and tried to grab him, the report stated. The employee and nearby passengers tried to restrain Strong.

When police arrived, they saw supervisors and managers running toward Gate 3. Witnesses told the officer that Strong had fought with a Jetblue employee.

Police approached Strong and said they detected alcohol on his breath. When the officer asked Strong to drop his bags and follow them, Strong refused. When the officer tried to detain Strong he told them to let go or "bad things would happen."

The officer once again warned Strong to drop his bags or they would have to respond with pepper spray. When he didn't reply, officers sprayed Strong and attempted to place him in handcuffs. 

Strong continued to resist arrest and began fighting with the officer. Nearby passengers and a JetBlue supervisor helped hold Strong down so the officer could place him in handcuffs.

Bystanders were affected by the pepper spray and were treated at the scene, according to airport officials.

Additional officers arrived to escort Strong out of the airport. He was booked into the Orange County Jail and faces several charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, disorderly intoxication, battery, child neglect.

According to police, Strong's 8-year-old son was present during the entire incident. JetBlue employees looked after him until a family member was contacted.

A man who became upset about a flight delay was pepper-sprayed at Orlando International Airport, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (Courtesy of Marc Greenberg)
A man who became upset about a flight delay was pepper-sprayed at Orlando International Airport, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (Courtesy of Marc Greenberg)