A Cuban couple was arrested this Tuesday at Miami International Airport after refusing to leave an American Airlines flight headed to Las Vegas. The detainees were Eugenio Ernesto Hernández Garnier (27) and his partner, Yusleydis Blanca Loyola (32), who were returning to the city where they reside after undergoing several cosmetic surgeries.
The incident that led to their removal from the aircraft was the noticeable appearance of Hernández Garnier, who had blood on his head due to a hair transplant. The conspicuous bandage appeared unsanitary, prompting a fellow passenger to complain and the crew to intervene.
Details of the Confrontation
According to the police report, cited by local media, the flight crew requested that the young man clean the blood and replace his bandages. However, he stated he did not have clean bandages. Yusleydis Loyola—known on social media as "La Poni"—began live-streaming the incident, which escalated when they refused to disembark and police forcibly removed them.
As the man refused to leave the plane, his partner joined in the protest, declaring that if they couldn’t fly, no one else would either. This statement alarmed the crew, who then called for the intervention of Miami-Dade police.
"Call 911, we are being discriminated against and abused," the Cuban woman told her followers while live-streaming the police ordering them off the plane. Although she deleted the video from her social media, it continues to circulate on various Instagram accounts.
"You know I have a tummy tuck, breast lift, arm lipo, I can’t even walk," said the woman, claiming that her physical condition was delicate and she couldn’t be forcibly removed.
"If you don’t get off, they will grab you and remove you," one of the officers can be heard saying in the footage.
After a few minutes and asking the other passengers to also leave the plane, the couple was forced out of their seats and made to disembark.
"Oh, look, he’s just had surgery, he’s just had surgery, and they're hitting him… oh my breasts, I can’t raise my arms," the Cuban woman screamed while being removed from the plane.
American Airlines issued a statement saying, "Two customers on flight 1858 bound for Las Vegas became disruptive and did not comply with crew instructions. Law enforcement responded and removed both customers from the aircraft."
Argemis Colome, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade police department, told Telemundo 51 that if the individuals "had simply left and collected their belongings from the airline, nothing would have happened."
Authorities reported that both were first taken to Jackson West Hospital for evaluation and then to TGK Jail. The couple was released on a $1,000 bail but faces charges for resisting arrest and trespassing. Upon their release early Wednesday morning, the Cuban woman posted a video on TikTok, stating that she didn’t care what people thought of them and that they knew they were right and would provide evidence in due time. After being released, Eugenio Ernesto Hernández Garnier claimed he had a note from his doctor stating he had no travel restrictions and condemned the agents' violence against them. Opinions on social media are divided; some criticize the couple for boarding a plane in such a condition, while others believe the mistake was allowing them to board in the first place. A couple of videos posted by Yusleydis Blanca Loyola before boarding the plane confirm that their condition was not ideal for flying.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Miami Airport Incident
Here are some common questions and answers regarding the incident involving the Cuban couple at Miami International Airport.
Why were Eugenio Ernesto Hernández Garnier and Yusleydis Blanca Loyola asked to leave the plane?
They were asked to leave the plane because Hernández Garnier had blood on his head from a hair transplant, and the bandage did not appear sanitary, prompting a passenger complaint and crew intervention.
What charges are the couple facing?
The couple faces charges for resisting arrest and trespassing after they refused to disembark from the airplane.
Did the couple have any medical documentation about their condition?
Yes, Eugenio Ernesto Hernández Garnier claimed he had a note from his doctor stating he had no travel restrictions.
What was the reaction on social media?
Opinions are divided; some criticize the couple for boarding the plane in such a condition, while others believe it was an error to allow them to board.