Overview
- The incident occurred before takeoff on an American Airlines flight from Quito to Miami, where the captain was heard saying in Spanish, “Desembarque de mi avión ahorita.”
- Video shows Rodríguez standing with his phone, stating he did not feel well and claiming unfair treatment before collecting his carry-on and exiting the aircraft.
- Witness reports say the dispute involved his carry-on placement, and some accounts allege he was verbally inappropriate with crew members.
- An ex-manager told Telemundo that a neighboring passenger objected to a bag holding medication tied to Rodríguez’s lung transplant, a claim not independently verified.
- As coverage circulated online, neither American Airlines nor Rodríguez had issued statements, and local reports said he remained in Quito arranging return travel to Miami.