Video footage has captured the moment a man went on a rampage at Dublin Airport on St Patrick’s Day before he was arrested for the criminal damage incident in which an airport gate was smashed up.
Airport Police were called to gate 107 of the major airport after a topless man who appeared to be wearing a face covering launched a frenzied attack on the gate this morning as horrified holidaymakers watched on. Footage shared on social media shows the man behaving erratically outside the gate, kicking the desk and wall before he is seen to start picking up and throwing various items.
The footage then captured the man throwing an item toward another man at the gate, who is spotted promptly walking away with his luggage. Further footage shows the man continuing to throw items around the terminal.
He is seen throwing chairs and tables attached to a café next to the gate, as wlel as kicking over the Ryanair baggage weight checker. Gardai confirmed that a man in his 20s had been arrested in connection with an incident of criminal damage at Dublin Airport on Monday.
A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mirror : “Gardai arrested a man in connection with incidents of criminal damage in Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, this morning, Monday, March 17, 2025. The man, aged in his 20s, has been charged and is due to appear before Court 2 of the Criminal Courts of Justice Dublin, this morning.”
A spokesperson for daa, which manages Dublin Airport, told Dublin Live that the man was intoxicated. They added that they “hope the justice system deals with him appropriately and also that we never see him at Dublin Airport again”.
They said in a statement: “Airport Police at Dublin Airport respodned to an incident in Terminal 1 this morning which resulted in a male individual being arrested. The passenger arrived at the Airport intoxicated, missed his flight and proceeded to cause significant damage to our Airport. The individual was quickly apprehended by Airport Police before being subsequently arrested by An Garda Siochana and is scheduled to appear in court later today. We hope the justice system deals with him appropriately and also that we never see him at Dublin Airport again.”
This latest incident comes after a passenger was banned from flying with United Airlines after attacking a member of staff at Dulles International Airport in the Washington DC-area. 54-year-old Christopher Crittenden, from Maryland, was handed the ban after a flight cancellation sparked an angry outburst.
After being told his flight was cancelled and another was fully booked, Crittenden worked himself up, knocking out a gate attendant in front of stunned holidaymakers and lashing out at several staff members during the 15-minute stand off. The furious passenger attempted to walk onto the jet bridge at Gate D12 while other holiday goers disembarked from a flight. He was heard shouting “I’m done with this bulls**t” as an employee tried to prevent him from entering the prohibited area.
Crittenden was then seen punching the worker in the face, knocking him to the ground in front of shocked travellers, with reports saying the victim was taken to the hospital after the attack. Police arrested Crittenden and charged him with assault and disorderly conduct.
He is said to have shouted “United sucks” as he was escorted off by police. Authorities have since claimed he was intoxicated during the incident. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Works Union (IAM) are now calling ofr action to be taken against those who assault airport staff. A spokesperson said: “Our members deserve a workplace where they can focus on providing excellent customer service—not one where they fear being attacked by passengers. This latest incident is yet another example of the unacceptable rise in violence against frontline airline workers, and immediate action is needed to address it.
“Across the country, airline customer service representatives continue to face physical assaults, including being punched, kicked, struck by thrown luggage, and having their clothing ripped. Some of these attacks have resulted in life-altering injuries. These employees, who are already under immense stress as frontline workers, should not have to endure the constant threat of abuse and physical harm from unruly passengers. The increase in assaults—often involving intoxicated or belligerent individuals attempting to board aircraft—has created an unsafe work environment, and enforcement must be strengthened.
“Despite the rise in violent incidents over the past several years, there have been minimal legal repercussions for offending passengers. IAM leaders argue that these incidents endanger airline customer service representatives and pose risks to the safety of flight crews and passengers. Any disruptive behaviour—whether due to intoxication, aggression, or other factors—introduces unnecessary risks to airline operations. The Department of Justice has the authority to take action, and we urge immediate enforcement of existing statutes to deter future assaults.”
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