A couple from Belize attempted to force their way onto an American Airlines flight over the weekend, allegedly pushing two people in the process.
Authorities were called Sunday to a gate at Miami International Airport regarding two passengers who were being disruptive while a flight to Cancun was boarding, the airline said.
“Acts of violence are not tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation,” American Airlines said in a statement Wednesday.
Rafael Seirafe-Novaes, 40, and Beatriz Rapoport De Campos Maia, 29, allegedly became angry over missing a flight and being denied entry after the plane boarded, according to arrest reports from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Maia’s arrest report said she pushed two people and then threw coffee on them.
“The jetbridge door has posted signs ‘no trespassing authorize personnel only,’” it said. “The defendant ignored the signs and verbal commands from the ticket agent as she pushed pass entering onto the jetbridge.”
An arrest report for Seirafe-Novaes said that he “resisted officers without violence” and pulled his arms away from the arresting officer.
Court records show Seirafe-Novaes was charged with resisting officers, trespassing and two counts of battery. Records were not immediately available for Maia but the arrest report said she was charged with battery and trespassing.
The court docket for Seirfae-Novaes did not list an attorney.
In an interview with CBS News, Maia denied the allegation and accused the person who said she threw the coffee of lying and insisted that it accidentally fell to the floor.
Seirafe-Novaes denied the allegation that he resisted law enforcement, telling CBS News he had scrapes on his knees from the arrest.
“We did two connections. This was our second connection,” Maia told CBS News. “We lost our trip to Cancun. We just got engaged, and what happened is a bad thing.”
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