A video captured the moment when a visibly enraged man slapped a woman after she refused to give up her seat at a Colombian airport.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening (July 27) at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport, and the video shows, according to Daily Mail, Héctor Santacruz approaching Claudia Segura and demanding that she give up her seat.
Man slaps woman at Colombia airport
Segura was reportedly sitting in a seat next to his wife, while he had gotten up. When Santacruz returned and saw the other woman sitting in his seat, he lost control. In fact, according to local media El Tiempo, he reportedly told the woman: “Get up or I’ll make you get up!”
El 27 de jul, en el aeropuerto El Dorado, Héctor Favio Santacruz Marulanda agredió a una mujer por una silla.
Su esposa, Carolina Bautista Loaiza, apareció en un video dando explicaciones, NO PARA RECRIMINAR EL ACTO VIOLENTO lo hizo que su marca khala no se viera afectada. pic.twitter.com/Plgih7lExQ— Driska🍉 (@Driska344) July 31, 2025
When she didn’t comply, Santacruz turned to someone and told them to make sure the incident was recorded on camera, and after knocking Segura’s phone from her hand, he slapped her in the face.
As she told El Tiempo: “He hit my hand, threw my phone and hit me hard in the face and head. The force of the slap was such that it knocked out my earring.” Other travelers were stunned, with several men rushing to defend Segura, pushing Santacruz away.
Fight escalates
The fight quickly escalated as more and more people began to get involved, with Santacruz trying to push them back while shouting angrily, while eventually his wife also stepped in trying to calm the situation.
Minutes later, video shows Segura lying on the ground while airport staff provided first aid. Héctor Santacruz was removed from the area in handcuffs by security authorities, with some bystanders erupting in cheers and applause.
“I’m very scared”
In statements after the attack, Segura said: “I’m very scared,” adding that she sat in the disputed seat because it appeared completely empty. She continued telling El Tiempo: “When I arrived at the waiting area, all the seats were full and I saw only one empty. There was no bag or clothing on it showing it was taken, so I sat down”.
For her part, Santacruz’s wife Karen said the seat was occupied, but Segura, who was on a business phone call, decided to sit down.
