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Frontier Airlines Workers FIRED After Viral Video
May 8, 2025 – Orlando, FL
In a scandal that has sent shockwaves across the airline industry, Frontier Airlines has fired four employees after a viral video emerged showing them engaging in what the company described as “gross misconduct” while on duty at Orlando International Airport.
The 2-minute, 37-second video, originally posted on TikTok by a bystander named Emily Rosas (@travelwithemily), has garnered over 17 million views in just 24 hours. The video appears to show three ground crew members and one gate agent dancing, drinking from what looks like mini liquor bottles, and joking about delaying flights for “fun” as frustrated passengers watch nearby. The video includes a now-infamous moment where one worker, later identified as 26-year-old Shawn Delacroix, mockingly announces over the gate microphone, “Flight 824 to Newark? Yeah, we’ll board you when we feel like it.”
Rosas, who was waiting to board her own flight to Dallas, told local news outlet WFLA that she initially thought the workers were just “blowing off steam” during a break, but quickly realized something was off.
> “I started filming when I noticed passengers visibly agitated and the gate agent just…laughing at them,” Rosas said. “Then one of them pulls out what looked like a shot bottle and handed it to another guy in a vest. That’s when I thought—this is wild.”
Within hours of the video going viral, Frontier Airlines released an official statement via social media:
> “We are aware of a video circulating online involving employees at Orlando International Airport. The behavior depicted is entirely unacceptable and does not reflect the values or operational standards of Frontier Airlines. The individuals involved have been terminated, effective immediately. We are conducting a full investigation in cooperation with airport authorities.”
The employees involved—Delacroix, 28-year-old Mariah Thorne (gate agent), and ramp agents Kevin Doyle (31) and Jasmine Silva (24)—were reportedly escorted from the airport by security late Tuesday night. Sources within the airline say internal security footage corroborated much of what was seen in the viral clip, and that further inappropriate behavior was discovered, including leaving baggage carts unattended and failing to report a minor luggage belt malfunction that occurred earlier that day.
Airline Insider Speaks Out
An anonymous Frontier employee who works out of Denver and has requested to remain unnamed said the situation isn’t as rare as the public might think.
> “Morale’s been low for a while. We’re overworked, underpaid, and sometimes the only thing keeping people sane is humor. That said—what they did was reckless. Drinking? Delaying flights to make jokes? That’s career suicide.”
The insider claims that while most employees would never act out in such a way, Frontier’s minimal staffing and high-pressure environment have created a culture where boundaries get pushed.
> “There’s zero tolerance officially, but when management looks the other way on everything else, some people think they’re untouchable.”
Passengers Furious
Flight 824 to Newark, the flight referenced in the video, was eventually delayed three hours, with passengers citing poor communication and “attitude” from the gate staff.
> “I missed a job interview I had lined up in Jersey City,” said Malcolm Evans, a passenger on the flight. “And to know now that the people responsible were playing around like it was some kind of joke—it’s infuriating.”
Another passenger, Linda Gibbons, said she initially found the video humorous—until she realized it involved her flight.
> “I laughed when I first saw it online. Then I saw the gate number and realized: that was us. We were being mocked while sitting there confused for hours.”
Some passengers are now considering legal action, with a class action lawsuit reportedly in early stages, alleging negligence and emotional distress.
Experts Weigh In
Aviation analyst Sarah Denton, who has consulted for several low-cost carriers, says this incident may be a wake-up call for the airline industry.
> “We’ve long ignored the fact that front-line airline employees are under immense stress,” Denton said. “But there’s no excusing what happened here. Drinking on duty and mocking customers—especially in the age of social media—is a recipe for disaster.”
She added that while Frontier acted quickly in firing the workers, reputational damage may linger.
> “Trust is hard to build and easy to break. Videos like this confirm people’s worst fears about budget airlines.”
What Happens Next?
Frontier Airlines has pledged to conduct a full audit of its Orlando operations and is reportedly implementing mandatory retraining on workplace conduct for all customer-facing staff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed they are aware of the video but declined to comment on whether any federal regulations were broken.
Meanwhile, Orlando International Airport has launched its own internal review and stated it would work closely with the airline to ensure better supervision of contracted employees.
As for the workers involved, none have spoken publicly—though Mariah Thorne’s Instagram account, which was briefly set to private, has since been deleted. Delacroix’s last post, made two hours before the video went viral, read simply: “I’m so done with this place.”
A Cautionary Tale
This incident marks yet another example of how quickly misconduct can be exposed in the digital age—and how even a few minutes of poor judgment can cost careers.
> “This isn’t just about a TikTok,” said Denton. “It’s about professionalism, trust, and the responsibilities that come with representing an airline—even on the ground.”
As Frontier scrambles to repair its image, social media continues to buzz with memes, duets, and reactions to the infamous clip. While some viewers continue to joke about the situation, others are demanding better standards—and accountability.
> “This isn’t funny anymore,” wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user. “Air travel is stressful enough. We need workers we can count on, not pranksters playing with our time and safety.”
Whether this incident is an isolated embarrassment or a sign of deeper problems within low-cost airline operations remains to be seen. But for now, Frontier finds itself in crisis mode—and four former employees are learning just how fast the internet can turn a joke into a nightmare.
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