Altercation Over MAGA Hat Delays British Airways Flight at Heathrow

 

A British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Austin, Texas, was delayed on Saturday following a dispute between two passengers over a "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) cap. The two women involved, aged 40 and 60, were preparing to board flight BA191 when a confrontation reportedly arose after one woman asked the other to remove her MAGA hat, a symbol popularized by supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Eyewitnesses reported that the exchange escalated to physical confrontation, with punches allegedly thrown as the women, both traveling in premium economy, squared off in the aircraft cabin. In response, the captain requested assistance, and Heathrow police intervened to remove the passengers before the flight took off. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 12:10 p.m., was delayed until 2:11 p.m. and continued to its destination without the two women on board.

No arrests were made, though both passengers filed complaints of affray against each other. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing. “Shortly after 12:45 p.m. on Monday, 28 October, police at Heathrow were alerted to an altercation involving two women boarding a plane in Terminal 5. Enquiries are ongoing,” a police spokesperson stated.

British Airways issued an apology to its passengers, expressing regret for the delay and reassuring that they aimed to resume travel as quickly as possible. A Heathrow official remarked that the incident was unprecedented, noting, “With the U.S. election nearing, tensions are high, but a passenger’s baseball cap delaying a flight is indeed a first.”