Airport Employees Describe Airport Rage, Assaults

CHARLOTTE, NC — Employees at Charlotte-Douglas Airport say they do not feel safe at work.

They want the city and lawmakers to make changes to protect them.

They say customers attack them at the customer service counters, gates, you name it.

We deal with a little hostile, sometimes angry, passengers,” said Eula Davis.

Davis is a customer service agent. She was out of work for 11 months in 2017 after she says a passenger pushed her into a door when he missed his flight.

“The passenger pushed me into the door and ran past me,” said Davis. “When he pushed me into the door the door fixture, I jammed right into the door. I ended up tearing up my rotator cuff and my upper bicep. I had to have surgery. I had to go through intensive therapy.”

She says CMPD let him go and did not get his name for her to press charges.

Donielle Prohete says a passenger snatched a bag out of her hand and cut her finger.

She got MRSA and was out of work 22 days.

“There are some agents to have had to have surgery, who have had black eyes, we have had torn ligaments,” said Prophete. “We really need the city of Charlotte, CMPD to step up. Help us. We got to figure out a new plan.”

Employees are also concerned about parking lot problems.

They want cameras and security guards.

Cars being broken into,” said Quade Mathis. “They were looking for guns and weapons.”

Mathis says someone hit his car in the employee lot Tuesday, and there’s no way for him to find out who is responsible.

“I come here every day thinking I can come to my job and not spend and make an income, and my income is going towards this,” said Mathis.

There are also people like Vera Parker. She’s one of many who say they have health issues and want the smoking areas moved.

“People going in and out have to inhale the by-product of that poison they are spewing into the air,” said Parker.

Airport workers asked city council for help Monday night.

LaWana Mayfield represents that district. She did not respond for comment.

CMPD says if officers don’t see the crime, the worker must get a warrant on their own.

“I would love to see more arrest done and these people brought back to court to pay for what they’ve done,” said Davis.

An airport spokesperson sent WCCB Charlotte a statement saying: “Charlotte Douglas International Airport is committed to working with all of our partners and employees to provide a healthy, safe and secure airport environment. Designated smoking areas for employees and the traveling public are located outside at the front of the terminal.

The airport acknowledges these are difficult to manage, as there is no law against smoking in public areas outside at the airport.

Smoking is strictly prohibited on the airfield and ramp and the airport enforces any such violation.”

Employees are pressing lawmakers to pass the FFA Reauthorization Bill. Each air carrier would be required to submit to the FAA an employee assault prevention and response plan. Areas of attention will include trends in incidents of physical altercations, protocols for agents who are victims of physical altercations and protocols for law enforcement. Carriers would also have to include a plan for training employees in de-escalating hostile situations.