At Los Angeles International Airport (USA), a scandal erupted due to the behavior of a baggage handler who was throwing passengers’ guitar cases. The incident sparked outrage on social media and gained widespread attention.
This is reported by Finway
Video Went Viral: Public Reaction
21-year-old college student Nick Ruiz witnessed the situation in Terminal 4 while waiting for his flight. He captured the moment when the airport worker callously dropped several guitar cases from a baggage cart onto the ground and posted the video on TikTok. Within three days, the clip was viewed over 4.4 million times. Users on the platform overwhelmingly condemned the baggage handler’s actions and expressed dissatisfaction with the careless treatment of passengers’ valuable belongings.
“The whole situation seemed wrong to me,” said Nick Ruiz, who started recording the video out of concern for the instruments.
Gary Leff, a travel expert and author of the blog View From the Wing, emphasized that such treatment of luggage, while shocking, unfortunately occurs quite frequently. He noted that airlines only officially condemn such incidents after relevant videos surface, but this practice is not uncommon. According to Leff, even cargo marked “fragile” does not always receive the proper attention, and damaged suitcases remain one of the most common complaints on social media.
Official Requirements and Airline Reactions
According to the rules of the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines are required to accept musical instruments as either checked baggage or carry-on luggage, depending on size and available space in the cabin. For larger instruments, some carriers allow passengers to purchase additional space so they can take their valuable item with them. However, travelers are advised to label cases as “fragile,” although even this does not guarantee careful handling during transport.
The video quickly spread across social media, where users left hundreds of comments sharply criticizing the baggage handler’s actions. Most people are outraged that such treatment of expensive and valuable items is unacceptable. Among the comments, there are calls for the employee’s dismissal and demands for airlines to strengthen oversight of their staff. Many musicians and instrument owners noted that it breaks their hearts, as the price of many guitars can reach several thousand dollars.
Similar incidents of careless baggage handling periodically trigger waves of public discontent. It is also known that the sale of lost or damaged luggage has long turned into a separate business in the USA and Europe. Recently, another case of careless treatment of passengers’ belongings at a Chicago airport also caused a stir online.