Air Rage Madness At 30,000 Feet, Fashion-Linked NYC Artist Goes Berserk, Screaming ‘I Don’t Want To Sit Next To A Fat Lady’ Before Hair-Pulling, Spitting Attack

A shocking mid-air meltdown has erupted into a full-blown legal battle after a New York City artist with high-profile fashion ties allegedly unleashed a vile, violent tirade against a fellow passenger, all caught on camera.

Leanna Perry, 32, who has reportedly worked with major brands including Steve Madden, Adidas, and Maybelline, is accused of launching into an unprovoked outburst that quickly spiraled into physical assault aboard a flight.

The victim, Kansas resident Livia Rombola, claims in a lawsuit filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court, and first obtained by The Independent, that Perry not only physically attacked her but left her emotionally distressed and psychologically traumatized after footage of the incident went viral online.

The now widely circulated video paints a disturbing picture.

Perry is seen shouting that she refuses to sit next to “a fking fat lady,” before unleashing a barrage of insults, allegedly calling Rombola a “fat-ass bh” and an “ugly-ass b**h.” Witnesses watched in horror as the situation escalated beyond verbal abuse.

Moments later, the confrontation turned physical.

According to the complaint, Perry allegedly grabbed Rombola by the hair and spat on her in a frenzied outburst that stunned passengers and crew alike. The chaos only came to an end when authorities intervened in dramatic fashion.

Perry was ultimately restrained with zip ties, strapped onto a gurney, and removed from the aircraft by police, a scene more reminiscent of a crime drama than a commercial flight.

But the fallout didn’t end on the tarmac.

Rombola’s lawsuit also takes aim at Southwest Airlines, blaming its controversial open seating policy for creating the conditions that allowed the altercation to erupt.

Her attorney, Joel J. Turney, did not mince words.

“The plaintiff has a strong case against Southwest,” he told The Independent, “especially with respect to their unusual free-for-all seating policy, which was a substantial factor in the cause of the incident.”

The case now raises uncomfortable questions not only about passenger behavior at 30,000 feet, but also about airline policies that may inflame already tense travel environments.

As the lawsuit unfolds, what began as a shocking viral video could turn into a costly courtroom showdown, with reputations, corporate practices, and personal accountability all on the line.