United Airlines’ slogan might be “Fly the Friendly Skies,” but that adage may no longer hold weight for former NFL player Brendan Langley. In a viral video, Langley is seen in a physical altercation with a United Airlines employee at Newark Liberty International Airport.
A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released a statement that noted the event happened on Thursday, May 19, at 11:03 am.
So YALL ARRESTED THE PASSENGER WHO WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF??! @united y’all really ain’t shìt for that!!!. Yall Brendan Langley was arrested and charged with simple assault for defending himself but of course the white employee wasn’t touched.. pic.twitter.com/jOFBsmBNfo
— ✌🏾✌🏾 (@04_kcjj) May 23, 2022
What Happened?
The incident reportedly occurred when the United Airlines ticket counter employee asked Langley for the wheelchair he was using to transport his luggage. Although the video does not show how the fight began, a lengthy version shows the employee taking the first crack, smacking Langley in the face, followed by Langley reciprocating the action successively.
After getting the better of the employee, Langley caught a sucker-punch-style slap assault while turning his face away from the United employee, who took the opening and reengaged the assault, smacking Langley again.
After yelling, “you saw that sh*t?” to another airport employee, Langley loaded up on his attack until the employee fell behind the counter. What seemed like a finale of the altercation almost continued further as the airline employee got up and approached Langley again, who did not engage physically again as other airline employees came to diffuse the tense situation.
The Investigation
The Denver Broncos drafted Langley in 2017. However, Langley currently plays in the Canadian Football league for the Calgary Stampeders. The team released a statement.
“The Calgary Stampeders football club is aware of the reports concerning Brendan Langley,” the Stampeders said to CNN. “The team is currently looking into the matter in order to learn the full details and will have no further comment until the investigation is complete.”
Of course they arrested and charged the black man defending himself after being continually assaulted and charged him with assault #brendanlangley #united #newark
— Elle Bee Me (@ellebeemee) May 23, 2022
Langley was reportedly charged with simple assault and released on his own recognizance per the Port Authority. Although it is not clear if the unidentified United employee was arrested or charged, United did release a statement confirming the company fired the employee.
“United Airlines does not tolerate violence of any kind at our airports or on board our planes and we are working with local authorities in their investigation of this matter,” the airline said to CNN. “United Ground Express informed us that the employee has been terminated.”
Who Is Brendan Langley
The 27-year-old Marietta, Georgia, native reportedly committed to the University of Georgia in November 2012, spending the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Bulldogs before transferring out and spending his final two collegiate seasons at Lamar.
He played for the Lamar Cardinals football team in Beaumont, Texas, for college. Eventually, he was a third-round selection with the 101st overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
Langley was the 18th cornerback chosen in 2017 and the first player drafted from Lamar in over 25 years. However, Langley began a journeyman’s process as a professional football player.
He played cornerback for the Denver Broncos during the 2017 season, but he was waived and signed to the practice squad by 2018. He eventually transitioned to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 before being signed by the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2022.
