Delta bans 'disruptive' pro-Trump flier for life, gives refunds

Delta Air Lines has apologized and offered refunds to those onboard a Tuesday (Nov. 22) flight on which a customer was allowed to remain on board after unleashing an election rant prior to takeoff.

Delta also has banned that passenger from its planes for life, CEO Ed Bastian said in a Monday memo to workers.

A passenger recorded a video of the episode from Delta Flight 248, which was headed from Atlanta to Allentown, Pa. In the video, the man can be seen yelling in support of Republican president-elect Donald Trump while insulting supporters of Hillary Clinton.

The man used profanities to address possible Clinton supporters, yelling across the cabin to other passengers on the flight.

IN DEPTH: Woman recounts what led up to rant (The Morning Call)

The video has since gone viral, racking up more than 2.3 million views since it was posted. Delta initially faced questions about why it allowed the man to remain on the flight after the rant, which occurred before takeoff.

Passenger Emma Baum tells The Morning Call newspaper of Allentown that she recorded the video. She says a flight attendant came back to talk to the man and eventually took him off the plane before he was allowed to return.

Bastian apologized and said that was a mistake, though he defended his employees for making “the best decision they could given the information they had” at the time.

Snake on a plane! Priority landing after reptile dangled from bin

“As you may have heard by now, last week a video began circulating around the internet showing a disruptive passenger on board a Delta flight,” Bastian said in a memo updating employees about the incident.

“This individual displayed behavior that was loud, rude and disrespectful to his fellow customers,” Bastian continued. “After questioning the customer, our team members made the best decision they could given the information they had and allowed him to remain on the flight. However, if our colleagues had witnessed firsthand what was shown in the video, there is no question they would have removed him from the aircraft. He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane.”

Bastian said the carrier would offer refunds to those on the flight.

“Part of being a reliable travel partner and a servant leader is acknowledging our mistakes so we can learn from them and respond more effectively in the future. Delta has apologized to the customers onboard that flight. We are also refunding those customers the cost of their tickets,” Bastian said in the memo.

Bastian also addressed the heightened tensions in the United States following the election.

“The heightened tension in our society means that now more than ever we must require civility on our planes and in our facilities,” Bastian said. “We must stay true to Delta’s core values and treat one another with dignity and respect. We also must remain committed more than ever to the safety of our customers and our crew members. We will not tolerate anything less.”

The 'boneyard': Where airlines send old planes to be scrapped