Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting TSA Officers During Miami Airport Meltdown
A Canadian man whose layover in Florida spiraled into a violent outburst has pleaded guilty to assaulting two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Miami International Airport in an incident captured on surveillance video, as per Fox News.
Cameron Dylan McDougall, 28, of Toronto, entered a guilty plea earlier this month in federal court to two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers. The charges stem from a December 2024 confrontation that left security staff injured and travelers stunned.
The trouble began on December 27, when McDougall allegedly struck another passenger aboard a Copa Airlines flight traveling from Panama City, Panama, to Toronto. The midair altercation forced the flight to divert to Miami, where McDougall was removed from the plane but not taken into custody. Instead, authorities allowed him to rebook a flight to Canada the following day.
However, the situation escalated again on the morning of December 28. As McDougall prepared to board an Air Canada flight, he reportedly struck a random passenger at approximately 6:37 a.m. near a TSA checkpoint, according to court documents.
A security guard who attempted to intervene was also assaulted. Moments later, McDougall returned to the screening area and attacked a TSA supervisor, swinging at him without provocation. While the supervisor managed to dodge the blows, another TSA officer was struck in the face multiple times as he tried to restrain McDougall.
The chaotic altercation was caught on airport surveillance footage, which shows McDougall throwing punches, resisting arrest, and being tackled near a screening bin cart as officers struggled to subdue him.
McDougall was ultimately restrained and arrested by Miami-Dade police officers. He pleaded guilty to the federal charges on May 19 and faces up to one year in prison for each count. His federal sentencing is scheduled for May 30.
In addition to the federal case, McDougall faces multiple state charges in Miami-Dade, including three felony counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and one misdemeanor battery charge. He is due back in state court on June 2.
