On December 12, 2024, a violent altercation broke out in Terminal 3 of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, involving four individuals, including an airport employee. Captured on video, the brawl featured participants throwing punches, pulling hair, and wielding “Wet Floor” signs as weapons. The footage shows three men confronting a man in a white T-shirt, escalating into a chaotic scene that drew the attention of nearby travelers.  Despite the intensity of the fight, no arrests were made, and the Chicago Police Department did not file a report. The Chicago Department of Aviation declined to comment on the incident, referring inquiries to the police. The motive behind the altercation remains unclear, and it did not result in any flight delays or cancellations.
4 People Involved In Violent Brawl Amid Holiday Travel At Chicago O'Hare
This article describes and includes videos of a violent brawl captured at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which could be upsetting for some readers.
A violent brawl erupted at Chicago's busiest airport last week after a group of travelers took to each other with wet floor signs and threw violent punches, according to a report from the New York Post.
Drama at Terminal 3
Captured by many and shared on X, it appears that four individuals were involved, and it is alleged one was an airport employee; they were seen throwing punches and pulling each other's hair, with what appeared to be three men against one. At one stage, one of the culprits found a wet floor sign and used this as a weapon.
As seen in the video, the wet floor sign was seen hitting one another's heads, with the plastic slapping echoing through the terminal near the terminal bag drop area.
The incident occurred in Chicago O'Hare International Airport 's Terminal 3 on Thursday, December 12th, the home terminal for American Airlines' Chicago operations.
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Using a wet floor sign as a weapon
Watching the video footage, it is seen that the group involved was near the check-in area at the terminal's entry. The brawl, which can be seen moving around the check-in area and into one of the terminal's entry doors, was captured by many, including one seen in the video, casually recording the brawl only meters from where it was taking place.
During the fight, the three men ganged up on the individual in the white shirt, who fought back and knocked one of the group onto the floor. During this time, the man in the white T-shirt appears to pull several dreadlocks from another man's head. After the dreadlocks are pulled, two men can be seen walking towards the man in the white shirt, who casually stands there holding the dreadlocks.
On his own, the man lifted a metal stanchion behind him, threatening the others to step back, which finally ended the brawl. The Chicago Police department were called to the disturbance, however according to a statement from the police department, no arrests were made.
While it remains unclear what caused the brawl, the details seem vague about whether the airport employee worked for an airline or a vendor inside the terminal. According to the New York Post, the Chicago Department of Aviation, which runs the airport, has not commented.
Many who have seen the footage and shared it widely on social media have compared the brawl to something from WWE, with the individuals throwing each other around like rag dolls and carrying the wet floor sign like a folded-up chair.
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Not a staff member of American Airlines
American Airlines has confirmed that the airport staffer did not work for the oneworld carrier, which utilizes Chicago O'Hare as one of its various key hubs. No flights were canceled or delayed due to the fight, and it remains clear that while the incident may have shocked many onlookers, it did not cause a significant disturbance to any flight operations.
Terminal 3 is the midwest home for American, alongside other key oneworld partners. Other airlines that use Terminal 3 include international carriers 
Aer Lingus , British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines flights. The terminal is made up of 80 gates on four different concourses labeled G, H, K, and L.
While the cause of the brawl is unclear, this incident is a timely reminder to remain calm and patient when traveling in the lead-up to and during peak holiday periods.
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