A chaotic scene took place on a Southwest Airlines flight back in June, involving two passengers named Leanna Perry and Livia Rombola. Perry, described as “drunk” and “intoxicated”, engaged in a physical and verbal altercation with Rombola, which was captured on video and quickly went viral.

In response to the incident, Rombola has recently filed a lawsuit against Perry and Southwest Airlines. The complaint states that Perry not only physically assaulted Rombola but also caused her emotional distress and psychological trauma. This was further exacerbated by the widespread circulation of the videos of the incident, leading to “re-traumatization” for Rombola.

In addition to Perry, Southwest Airlines has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Rombola’s lawyers argue that the airline’s unassigned seating policy was a “foreseeable hazard” that contributed to the conflict between the two passengers. They claim that the policy, which allows passengers to choose their seats upon boarding, is not in line with industry standards and can lead to potential conflicts. The filing further accuses the airline of failing to intervene and deny Perry access to the flight, despite her being visibly impaired and intoxicated.

Southwest Airlines has responded to the incident by announcing that it will be phasing out their unassigned seating policy by January 2026, as 80% of customers prefer assigned seating. In the meantime, the airline has commended their employees for their professionalism during the incident and stated that Perry was not allowed back on the flight.

The altercation began when Perry started verbally attacking Rombola, making derogatory comments about her weight and clothing. Despite efforts from other passengers and Southwest employees to de-escalate the situation, Perry continued to escalate the situation. She then physically assaulted Rombola by pulling her hair and spitting on her, causing further chaos on the flight.

The videos of the incident show Perry making racist and discriminatory comments towards other passengers and employees. She was eventually restrained and taken off the flight, while Rombola and another passenger were able to exit the plane.

This incident has sparked a conversation about the safety and policies of airlines, particularly in regards to handling conflicts between passengers. Rombola’s lawsuit highlights the potential consequences of unaddressed conflicts on flights and the need for stricter policies to ensure the safety and well-being of all passengers.