TIA: Unruly JetBlue passenger arrested in terminal

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A passenger scheduled to board a JetBlue plane to San Juan, Puerto Rico caused a scene Wednesday and was arrested in the terminal, according to officials with Tampa International Airport.

A witness took video of the outburst, including the moment the man took down his pants, and later had to be restrained by officers.

Airport officials said the man, identified by TIA officials as Ralph Rodriguez Hernandez, became upset around 2 p.m. because his flight was delayed. TIA said during the tantrum, Hernandez threatened to kill a gate agent from JetBlue.

Lowell Beckner took video of the roughly 15-minute ordeal. Lowell said Hernandez was accompanied by a rottweiler mix service dog, which can be seen in the video. TIA officials said they took the dog to its canine facility, where it will stay until Animal Control can take over.

"He kept screaming that he wanted his plane, for them to get the plane there, and they were trying to calm him down," Beckner said. "The airport staff did great."

His possessions, including a backpack and dog food and water bowls, were scattered around the terminal.

"When he started fighting with the cops and got thrown to the ground and was still kicking police, I said, this is not going to end good," Beckner said.

Hernandez was arrested and charged with battery of a law enforcement official.

Beckner said after officers handcuffed Hernandez, they tried to take him away in a wheelchair, but eventually carried him out of the terminal.