American Airlines Fires Flight Attendant with 25 Years of Experience Amid Assault

FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) has terminated the employment of Tillman Robinson, a 25-year veteran flight attendant, following an incident on a Charlotte (CLT) to Las Vegas (LAS) flight where he was allegedly assaulted by a passenger.

The December 31, 2023 altercation resulted in the passenger being cited for assault and completing an anger management course, while Robinson lost his career despite claiming he followed airline training protocols for self-defense.

Photo: American Airlines

American Flight Attendant Fired

The termination has raised questions about airline policies regarding crew safety and appropriate responses to passenger aggression.

According to American Airlines’ statement, their “thorough internal investigation” determined Robinson “acted in a manner inconsistent with expectations and defined policies—prior to the altercation and throughout.” However, colleagues who have worked with Robinson describe him as an exemplary crewmember with a previously spotless record.

Robinson recounted the incident: “He starts putting his finger in my face; he starts yelling expletives; then he pushes me, and then he starts taking swings.”

The flight attendant maintains he followed airline-provided training, explaining, “It starts with asking people to step back, move away, turn around, and walk away when they are trying to strike at you.”

ALSO CHECK OUT: American Airlines Stops Hiring New Flight Attendants for Summer 2025

Photo: American Airlines

Union Response and Industry Implications

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents American Airlines flight attendants, has been criticized for its apparent lack of effective support in Robinson’s case. This incident highlights potential limitations in union protection for airline crew members facing employment termination, even in cases involving passenger violence.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Robinson, who at 51 years old now faces financial hardship including the potential loss of his home. The campaign also notes he cares for two elderly parents with serious health issues.

Robinson has expressed concern about his future employment prospects, saying, “Now I’m worried about how I’m going to keep my house at 51; at 51, who’s going to hire me?”

Industry observers such as Gary Leff note that flight attendant terminations following passenger altercations may send a troubling message about crew safety priorities. As incidents of unruly passenger behavior have increased in recent years, clear protocols that protect both passengers and crew remain essential for maintaining safe air travel environments.

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Photo: Alaska Airlines

Similar Incident

Former Alaska Airlines (AS) flight attendant Nelle Diala has publicly addressed her termination (in Jan 2025) following a viral video showing her dancing on an empty aircraft.

In an Inside Edition interview, Diala characterized her dismissal as “unfair” and potentially “discriminatory” after posting content of herself dancing during downtime before passengers boarded.

“I didn’t think that being so happy could turn into something like this,” Diala explained. “I just decided to take advantage of the moment to wake myself and get myself hyped up for my day.”

The incident occurred when Diala recorded herself dancing on an unoccupied plane at approximately 6 a.m. while awaiting the captain’s arrival. She captioned the video, “Ghetto bih till I D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you,” and posted it to celebrate completing her probationary hiring period.

“I was really proud of myself that I came so far,” Diala stated. Her employment ended six months into her contract, which she described as devastating.

“I put on a proud face every time I stepped on that plane and for them to terminate me without giving me a chance, it just was unfair,” she said during the interview. According to Diala, Alaska Airlines cited violations of their social media policy as grounds for termination.

Diala maintains she did not consider her video inappropriate and has suggested the airline “did discriminate” against her because her dancing style was “geared toward the urban community.”

“So, of course, the company would like to embrace ‘all cultures’ but leave the minority girl from the ghetto OUT,” she asserted in a separate statement.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Airline Response

Alaska Airlines responded to media inquiries without addressing Diala’s specific allegations. “While we don’t comment on personnel matters, we hold all flight attendants to high standards for conduct and guest care,” a company spokesperson told The Independent. “All new flight attendants are subject to probationary periods, just like all Alaska Airlines employees.”

Following her termination, Diala reposted the dancing video with commentary: “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.” She tagged the post with #discriminationisreal before eventually making the content private.

Diala has established a GoFundMe campaign seeking financial support until she secures new employment. She previously described working as a flight attendant as her “dream job” but noted she used her income to support her developing lingerie and dessert businesses.

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