Shocking scenes unfolded at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on Sunday night (July 27, 2025) as a dispute over a seat escalated into a violent brawl, after a man slapped a woman who refused to give up her spot. Footage of the chaotic incident has since gone viral, drawing widespread condemnation.
The altercation began when Hector Santacruz confronted Claudia Segura, who had taken a seat next to his wife, Karen, which he claimed was already occupied. According to reports from the Daily Mail and local outlet El Tiempo, Santacruz had stepped away briefly. Segura explained that she found only one empty chair in the packed gate area and sat down, as there were no belongings indicating it was taken.
Santacruz’s wife had informed Segura that the seat was occupied, but Segura, who was finishing a work-related call, remained seated. Upon his return, Santacruz aggressively demanded that Segura vacate the seat. “Get up or I’ll get you up,” he warned, before reportedly instructing someone nearby to film the confrontation.
The situation quickly turned violent when Santacruz knocked Segura’s phone from her hand and then struck her forcefully in the face. “He hits me on the hand, knocks off my phone, and hits me hard in the face and head. The magnitude of the impact knocked my earring off,” Segura recounted to El Tiempo.
Witnesses immediately reacted, with several men rushing to Segura’s defense and shoving Santacruz away. As tensions escalated, more travelers joined the scuffle, while Santacruz attempted to fend them off, shouting aggressively. His wife also stepped in, trying to calm the chaos.
Footage taken moments later showed Segura lying on the floor as airport staff attended to her injuries. She was later taken to urgent care for treatment. “I am affected and very afraid,” Segura stated after the incident.
Santacruz was swiftly escorted away in handcuffs by airport security, to the applause of onlookers. It remains unclear whether he will face formal charges, as reported by the New York Post. His wife later released an emotional apology via Instagram, stating, “The person shown physically assaulting a woman is my husband. And you don’t know how much it hurts me to say this out loud… It really hurts me as a woman, as a mother.”
The incident has ignited widespread outrage online, reigniting discussions about public conduct and passenger behavior in crowded spaces.
