An Australian traveler went completely off the rails at Los Angeles International Airport, allegedly yanking a TSA agent’s hair and slamming him into a glass wall after accusing the officer of stealing his passport, authorities said.
Thomas Jesse Bingham, 35, is accused of unleashing the bizarre outburst inside the packed airport, leaving stunned travelers to watch as the confrontation spiraled into chaos.
The meltdown began when Bingham couldn’t find his backpack and travel documents, prosecutors said. Instead of retracing his steps, he allegedly zeroed in on a Transportation Security Administration officer and pointed the finger.
That’s when things turned physical.
Bingham allegedly grabbed the agent’s uniform, ripped off his ID badge, yanked his hair and shoved him into a glass partition during the scuffle, according to court filings.
The agent suffered injuries and had to be medically evaluated.
Bingham had been planning a trip to Las Vegas, but his travel itinerary quickly detoured into handcuffs.
Authorities say he was initially detained and later re-arrested before trying to catch a flight to the United Kingdom, a move that didn’t get very far.
He now faces a federal charge of assaulting a federal officer, which carries a potential sentence of up to eight years behind bars.
Safe to say, his next destination won’t require a boarding pass.
