Viral video shows New York woman assaulting passenger on flight to Kansas City

A New York woman was arrested in Queens on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a woman on a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Kansas City from LaGuardia Airport, according to an email from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Leanna Perry, 32, faces one count each of second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, and three counts each of third-degree attempted assault and second-degree harassment with physical contact.

Port Authority police responded to reports of an intoxicated passenger on a Southwest flight at LaGuardia around 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to the email. Perry was arrested and taken to a hospital for evaluation before being placed in custody.

In a now-viral video, a woman, allegedly Perry, can be seen grabbing another passenger’s hair while verbally berating her. Southwest employees and others held Perry’s arms in an attempt to get her to let go of the victim’s hair.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to sit next to a f****** fat lady,” Perry said in the video.

As employees attempted to restrain Perry, the woman could be seen spitting at the victim.

In a second video, Perry repeatedly yells, “I can’t breathe,” before sinking to the ground and kicking seats in the plane.

Perry is set to appear for an adjournment hearing in Queens court on Sept. 3, according to court records.

Southwest Airlines was not immediately available for comment.

This story was originally published June 19, 2025 at 4:00 AM.