Overview

• Livia Rombola filed a civil suit in New York State Supreme Court naming Leanna Perry and Southwest Airlines over a June flight confrontation captured on video.
• The complaint argues Southwest’s unassigned seating encouraged conflict and alleges staff failed to deny boarding to a visibly impaired passenger in violation of FAA rules.
• Footage shows Perry pulling Rombola’s hair, spitting, and hurling insults before crew and passengers restrained her with zip ties and police removed her from the aircraft.
• Perry faces multiple misdemeanor charges, has pleaded not guilty, and is due in Queens Criminal Court on September 3.
• Southwest declined to comment on pending litigation; the airline has announced a shift to assigned seating in January 2026 as the FAA reports over 1,000 unruly passenger cases this year.