In a disturbing incident that took place on a Southwest Airlines flight earlier this summer, a woman was caught on video attacking another passenger while under the influence. The victim, Livia Rombola, has now filed a lawsuit against her attacker and named Southwest as a co-defendant, citing the airline’s open seating policy as a contributing factor to the confrontation.

The incident, which went viral on social media, occurred on a flight from New York to Kansas City. The attacker, Leanna Perry, a 32-year-old illustrator from Brooklyn, can be seen in the video slapping and pulling Rombola’s hair while shouting abusive and derogatory remarks. Despite pleas from other passengers, Perry continues to assault Rombola and even spits on her multiple times.

The video, originally posted on TikTok, was later deleted but copies can still be found on various platforms. Another video shows Perry being taken off the plane on a gurney as police and paramedics escort her.

According to the complaint filed by Rombola, the victim sustained serious and lasting injuries as a result of the attack. The lawsuit also states that Perry was visibly intoxicated and had rejected an open seat near another passenger before the altercation.

Southwest Airlines has always had an open seating policy, but the lawsuit argues that this policy is a “clear departure from the industry standards of other airlines within the same industry. ” Although the airline had announced plans to implement assigned seating in 2025, the date has since been pushed back to January 2026.

Rombola’s lawsuit claims that the lack of assigned seating on the flight directly contributed to the confrontation and accuses Southwest of prioritizing their financial and logistical interests over the safety and comfort of their passengers.

In addition to physical injuries, Rombola also claims to have suffered reputation harm, professional embarrassment, and social stigma due to the widespread attention the incident received online.

This incident is not an isolated one, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received over 1,000 reports of unruly passengers in the U. S. so far this year. Despite the high number, it is actually significantly lower than in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Southwest stated that they cannot comment on pending litigation. No response has been received from Perry or Rombola’s attorney at this time. The FAA has also not commented on the incident.