A Virgin Atlantic flight attendant from the UK was taken into custody for allegedly shoving a teenage girl at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida. Keith Newman, aged 47, is accused of pushing an 18-year-old girl, causing her to fall and splash water on a friend on February 20.
The incident reportedly occurred at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, themed after the character Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. According to reports, Newman claimed the girl cut in line in front of him, prompting him to try to stop her by extending his arm and saying there was a queue.
The girl purportedly attempted to pass by him, but Newman allegedly used both hands to push her backwards, leading her to stumble and spill water on herself. Despite the fall, the victim did not sustain any injuries and did not seek medical attention.
While Newman denied pushing the girl, a friend of the victim supported her account during police questioning. The friend claimed to have heard Newman insist on the presence of a queue before physically pushing the teenager.
The friend further alleged that when the victim resisted Newman’s push, he used both hands to forcibly push her back. Newman countered by stating that he only extended his hand, and the girl walked into it. However, the evidence gathered during the investigation supported the decision to arrest Keith Richard Newman for battery.
Newman was released on bail amounting to £734 ($1,000) and has since returned to his residence in Lemington, Newcastle, where he resides with his partner, who is also an airline worker.
Conversely, the victim’s father criticized Newman’s behavior as unjustifiable. He emphasized the importance of refraining from physical contact except in self-defense, particularly towards individuals significantly younger and of the opposite gender. The father described his daughter as appearing younger than her age, indicating that she was a minor and condemning Newman’s actions towards a child.
He expressed the hope that this incident serves as a reminder that physical aggression towards others, especially minors, is unacceptable. The father highlighted the importance of respecting personal boundaries and avoiding confrontations that involve physical force.
