It is a common sight that passengers stand bored in front of baggage claim belts and stare at their smartphones. However, it is rare for fists to fly and a small mass brawl to break out – at least in the USA. But that's what happened on May 22, 2023 in Chicago.

Normally, passengers wait bored and often impatiently in the baggage claim halls for their suitcases to finally be ready on the belt for collection. Sometimes e-mails and WhatsApp messages are checked or tickets or taxis are ordered. Some passengers at Chicago-O'Hare Airport had very different thoughts, however, because a heated discussion quickly turned into a fight.

According to the police, however, this should have a history, because when getting out of a plane, a 24-year-old woman is said to have been hit by two unspecified perpetrators. In the baggage claim hall, they were then "confronted" and this resulted in an argument that was fought with the fists. Some other travelers were then “pulled” into this, so that a small mass brawl developed.

"We are working closely with all of our federal partners at O'Hare and Midway International Airports, as well as the Chicago Police Department, to ensure everyone in our facilities feels safe, and the CDA cares," the local airport authority said also ensuring that their airline partners have clear lines of communication with public safety resources in the event of incidents in their rental areas."

Neither the police nor the CDA provided information on which flight the brawlers were booked on or with which airline they flew. In any case, the handcuffs clicked for them and it was already announced that there would be criminal charges.