Thomas Pallini/Insider
- A Delta Airlines flier was arrested after he allegedly punched another passenger, per NBC News.
- Atlanta police said the dispute began after one of the passengers put an item in his seat pocket.
- Airlines have reported several similar disruptive incidents on planes in recent months.
A Delta passenger has been arrested for allegedly punching another passenger before take-off.
NBC News first reported on the incident, which took place on Friday on a flight heading to Los Angeles from Atlanta on.
It kicked off after the suspect, Curtis Maurice Clayton, got into a heated dispute with a passenger seated behind him.
According to Atlanta police, Clayton began to argue with fellow traveler German Montez, who had placed an item in his seat pocket.
Clayton protested and the dispute escalated until he punched Montez, police told NBC News.
Clayton was then restrained by a passenger, police told NBC News.
In a video made known to the outlet, the two men fought in the aisle while several people attempted to restrain them. As the drama unfolded, a passenger featured in the clip said: "Seriously? I already missed one flight," according to the report.
Delta Airlines and the Atlanta Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
After a 31-minute delay, the flight eventually took off.
Following the incident, police told NBC News that Clayton was "uncooperative" with officers and damaged a police vehicle during the investigation.
He was subsequently charged with battery and interference with government property.
The incident follows a series of unruly passenger behavior on flights. Recently, a Delta Airlines passenger was charged with two federal crimes after being accused of punching a flight attendant in the face twice.
This month, a maskless United Airlines passenger was kicked off his flight after threatening to break another passenger's neck.