By Barbara Goldberg
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Airlines (O:AAL) on Saturday apologized to a female passenger and suspended an employee after a video showing an onboard clash over a baby stroller went viral, in the latest embarassment for a U.S. carrier over how it treated a customer.
The clip, posted to Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) on Friday by a bystander on the flight, shows a woman in tears with a young child in her arms, and a man emerging from his seat to confront a male flight attendant.
Facebook user Surain Adyanthaya, who put the video on his page, said in his post that the flight attendant had forcefully taken the stroller from the woman, hitting her with it and just missing her child.
"You do that to me and I'll knock you flat," the unidentified man tells the flight attendant.
The crew member then points his finger angrily and challenges the passenger to hit him.
The video shows the man eventually returning to his seat.
American Airlines said in a statement it was investigating the incident, which took place before the plane took off on a flight from San Francisco to Dallas.
"We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident," the airline said in a statement released early on Saturday.
The woman elected to take another flight and was upgraded to first class, the airline said.
Less than two weeks ago, United Air Lines (N:UAL) found itself in a public relations nightmare when a video appeared online showing a 69-year-old doctor being dragged off one of its flights to make room for a crew member, sparking international outrage and policy changes by the airline.