Law&Crime Sidebar - First-Class 'Karen' DRAGGED Off Flight in Shocking Arrest

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

What started as a routine night at Tampa International Airport spiraled into a shocking standoff after police say first-class passenger Lauren Nash forced her way back onto an American Airlines flight after being denied re-boarding — then refused to leave her seat. Now, newly released body cam footage reveals Nash’s fiery outbursts and the tense struggle that brought the entire gate to a halt. Law&Crime’s Jesse Weber breaks down the viral arrest.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW:Shop Equip by going to https://equipfoods.com/sidebar - Use code: sidebar for 20% off a first purchase, 35% off a first subscription.HOST:Jesse Weber: https://twitter.com/jessecordweberLAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokeVideo Editing - Michael Deininger, Christina O'Shea, Alex Ciccarone, & Jay CruzScript Writing & Producing - Savannah Williamson & Juliana BattagliaGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this Law and Crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Hi, miss. Can you come off the plane with me? Oh, well, you can explain to me the reason why. Miss, this is what's going to happen. Everybody's going to get off the airplane, and then we're going to have to take you against your will. And we don't want to do that. I have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Don't hurt me. It started as a routine night at Tampa International Airport. That is until a first-class passenger refused to leave her seat. Laura Nash reportedly intoxicated, forced her way onto a plane that she had already been denied reboarding. And what followed was a standoff that shut down the gate, drew in police, and left officers struggling to get her out. From fiery arguments with airline staff to handcuffs, it is all caught on viral body cam footage.

And we're going to break down the moment that a night out at the end, airport spiraled completely out of control. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. This wild case takes us back to April 1st, 2025 inside Tampa International Airport. And what should have been a normal night for passengers boarding American Airlines at gate F-81 quickly spiraled into a full-blown standoff. Police say a woman later identified as Laura Nash had been drinking at the Gasparilla bar before her flight. And when she tried to board, that is when things went south very fast. So Nash allegedly forced her way onto the aircraft after being told she couldn't

reboard. And once she seated in first class, she refused to leave. Police were called, a supervisor had to get involved, and before long, passengers were watching as Nash argued and told officers she wasn't going anywhere. This is what's going to happen. Everybody's going to get off the airplane, and then we're going to have to take you against your will. And we don't want to do that because you're going to upset all these other passengers. No, here's the thing is I'm not really worried about the other passengers. Okay.

I am worried about is my rights. Okay. And my rights are that you are to explain to me what it is that is going on. I've done nothing wrong. Okay, so let me explain it to you. Nope, but you are going to listen to me first. I'm going to explain to you. And you can after I'm done.

Okay. So I'm very well aware of my rights. I'm very well educated. Clearly I'm sitting here. I paid for this seat two weeks ago. Okay. I have done absolutely nothing wrong. There is something wrong with people that work for this airline that are outside, which have made the complaint against me. I've done nothing wrong. So if you guys want to tell me what it is that I did wrong, then maybe I'll cooperate. the captain of the airplane. Now the captain of the airplane is right there and him and I had a very clear conversation. He does not believe that this should be happening. Well, he's there and we're here. And he's right here. And he told me to my eyes. He said this is out of his control.

Right. So that's why we come in. Please come talk. Please. No, but you did. I am first class, miss. Miss, there's something going on. I am.

You exhibited, Ms. Nash, you exhibited some behavior that's not conducive to them. And am I exhibiting that behavior? You've either ingested or taken something that's getting in front of your judgment. That's all I'm saying. So we're going to have everybody come out and then we're going to have to take you out. That was just the beginning, by the way. I'm going to walk you through exactly what happened from the airline's first complaint to the body cam footage of officers struggling to remove her to Nash's fiery outbursts all the way to the jail.

But before we even get into the body cam, showdown, we got to rewind and set the stage. Okay, so according to the incident report from Tampa Police, it was just after 9.15 p.m. when authorities were called and arrived to airside Fgate F-81. Now, what was the call about? A possible intoxicated female refusing to exit the aircraft. American airline staff, they tell officers that the woman in question, Lauren Nash, had been drinking at a bar before boarding. And after stepping onto the plane, Nash apparently suddenly ran back off, realizing she had left her bag or bags behind, but here is where things crossed the line.

Even though staff told her or reportedly told her, she could not reboard, she allegedly sprinted back down the jet bridge and forced her way onto the plane once again. And from there, that's when things go crazy. That is when things escalate because the flight crew and the manager on duty asked Nash to leave because they say she appeared visibly intoxicated. She then reportedly refused, became belligerent, started cursing, and apparently pulled out her phone to record stuff, maybe even the staff. And that is where Tampa police officers step in.

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Use my promo code sidebar. You will get 20% off of your first order or 35% off of your first subscription. So thank you to Equip for making the best bar on the market and partnering with us. We really appreciate it. They walk into a standoff between airline staff and a passenger who refuses to leave her seat. Not a great call. So here's how officers were briefed before heading on to the plane to confront Nash. And I just observed her because obviously she's drunk.

And I just watched her insane. And then she ran up the jet bridge to go get a bag because she left her bag at Gasparola. Then I was going to have a conversation with her. They noticed she'd been drinking, blah, blah, blah. Well, I told her she wasn't going to board until we had the conversation. She ran down the jet bridge and kept going after I told her repeatedly to come back up here and continue. now she refuses to get off the aircraft. So we're removing her off the aircraft

is she will not come off the aircraft. So that is what you're walking into. I guess we are we, well, Tony's on his way. You did tell him that she did come off. Well, we got a supervisor on the way. We can go down, we just won't go in the plane. She came off and went back on after we informed her. She could not get on the aircraft.

All right. Like I said, our supervisor's coming, so he's got to be the one to go on and, like, kind of get her to come off. So is there any, any, any, She had gotten my face of the captain again, the first officer. I know she was young at the number one. I'm the captain.

But nothing physical, right? We just... I don't believe so. Yeah, scan, scan, yeah. Do you have a scanner and scan? Hold on a second. Yeah. So...

I've already told her. Do you have her police started off? No, I've already toured her. She ran back from there. Well, please hear. I know. But if you could kind of do this, if she's sitting right in first class. One of you could kind of go behind it down and the other one has one and a hall.

Yeah, there were... The only supervisor's coming. Oh. So you can't but your supervisor's back? Correct, yes. Okay, all right, yeah. So she, uh... Yeah, so...

We get them on the right down. Okay, so if you scan the bag, you don't see out in any bag, the new bag bag. It's a reroute. Okay. Oh, let's go down the point. Yeah, it has to be. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, supervisor has to go. Hey, maybe I'm in the middle of something. Okay, so do you have a scan and shoot out the bag tags? Yeah. Yeah, so scan them and see if it shoots out in bag tags. I'm already going to see you're going to be in here. Right, yes, in Miami. Any Miami bags down there?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there are Miami back. I'm already going to assume she's not going to be no longer flying with you guys ever. Uh, yeah, there are a second off decision, but tonight she's not flying with us. No. And I'm guessing her ticket is going to be no longer later, so, yeah. Where is this plane headed? Uh, Nashville. Natural.

Yeah, three six, six. Yeah, no, no, no. And I guess she's traveling by herself? Uh, yeah. There's, is that the supervisor? Yeah, okay, I gotta go. Okay. All right, I go.

All right, I go, bye. So I tend this to all like, so I think so I'll make the clock. We're at the sky center? Hi, how are you? Hi, how are you? Pretty good. Are you able to go on the airplane?

No, he, yeah, he's, he should be coming. What's her problem? She just intoxicated. Apparently she came down, but then she had to run back up because she left her bag and just completely bypassed. completely bypassed the one agent, so then the agent went to stop her and talked to her and just completely blew by her, came running back down, jumped on the plane. Because she was going to stop her and tell her that she can't fly just the way she was been acting in. And apparently she got into like the captain, started yelling at the captain in the...

I hear he's coming. I'll just give them a brief. So just a quick synopsis. So I guess she probably was hanging at Gasparolla. She checks in, she walks down, but then she runs back up because I guess she got, forgot her bag. I guess she may have been a little belligerent. But then the agent went to stop her to kind of be like,

well, you're not flying with it. now, just completely runs by her and just jumps on the plane, then apparently got off the plane, but then went right back on. So apparently, though, I guess the only way she'll probably get off now is if she sees a police officer from what they're telling me. So hopefully she'll come off when she sees you. So with the warning in mind that Nash was not cooperating that this could be difficult, police stepped onto the aircraft and confronted her directly.

Yes, can you come off the plane with me? Well, well, you can explain to me the reason why. I'll explain it out there, but we can't. Miss, this is what's going to happen. Everybody's going to get off the airplane, and then we're going to have to take you against your will. And we don't want to do that because you're going to upset all these other passengers. No, here's the thing is I'm not really worried about the other passengers, but I am worried about is my rights. Okay.

And my rights are that you are to explain to me what it is that is going on. I've done nothing wrong. Okay, so let me explain it to you. Nope, but you are going to listen to me first. I'm going to explain to you. And you can after I'm done. Okay. So I'm very well aware of my rights.

I'm very well educated. Clearly, I'm sitting here. I paid for this seat two weeks ago. Okay. I have done absolutely nothing wrong. There is something wrong with people that work for this airline that are outside. Right. Which have made the complaint against me.

I've done nothing wrong. So if you guys want to tell me what it is that I did wrong, then maybe I'll cooperate. Well, the captain of the airplane? Now, the captain of the airplane is right there, and him and I had a very clear conversation. He does not believe that this should be happening. Well, he's there and we're here. And he's right here. And he told me, to my eyes, he said, this is out of his control.

Right. So that's why we come in. Please come talk. Please, no, but you did. I am first class, miss. Miss, there's something going on. I am first class. Ms. Nash, you exhibited some, some behavior that's not conducive to them.

Am I exhibiting that behavior? You've either ingested or taken something that's getting in front of your judgment. That's all I'm saying. So we're going to have everybody come out and then we're going to have to take you out. Can you take my bag that is? No, ma'am. You're refusing to. You're refusing to come off.

No, I'm not leaving here without my bag. Well, grab your bag, and we'll take it. Good, you can do that. You can do it because that's your bag. That's your bag. So you do it. Are you saying he's really this sick? Are you wanting to get your back?

Right. And it's beyond his control. No, listen to him. Are you kidding me? No, he's not. You just grab your bag. Just grab your bag and... I haven't done anything wrong.

Well, you've exhibited some kind of behavior and that's concerned. No, what we're going to do right now... What we're going to do right now is we are going to start recording this. I'm recording you too, so that's fine. I have no problem going on YouTube. But grab your bag and let's get off the plane so you don't upset the rest of the airplane. I've already upset the rest of the aircraft. You have, yes.

So let's just get out, get your bag, and we'll leave. Here's the deal, sir. Uh-huh. I'm just going to have first class. Okay. You know what? You know what I don't like? You know what I don't like?

Um, let's see if first class is okay. Do we leave us off? You don't have to, unless you want. We can, though. Okay. You don't have to go. Is this your green one? There we go.

Alright. Don't you guys have more important things to do? We do. Yeah, we do, but this is one of the important ones. No, it's not. It is. No, it's really not. It is.

You know what it is. Alright, grab your bag and we can talk while you're walking. No. You're telling me what to do. It doesn't work that way. Ms. Nash, it doesn't work that way. Look, grab your bag. Grab your bag.

This is what's going to happen. What's going to happen is in about five seconds, you're going to end up, get in handcuffs. What are you going to do? for disorderly conduct. How's that? Now, eventually, she agrees to stand up, but she appeared to keep stalling, demanding her bag, demanding explanations, arguing with everyone an earshot. And that is when officers finally move into detain her. And the body cam captures the moment that Nash started freaking out.

Ma'am, continue up. Just give me a second, would you? We've had plenty of time. Go ahead and go up. Please go up. Just give me a fucking sorry. Let's go. Let's go. Come on.

Let's go. Come on. We'll talk to you. Sorry, folks. We apologize. Keep going. I can't. I can't be right.

No. Can you just give me a second? Just give me a second. Got to walk, ma'am. Up stairs, me can get a second. We're gonna walk. Listen, I'm not a f***ing. Don't resist, ma'am, relax.

Are you kidding me. Okay, we had your chance to walk up. You had your chance to walk up. Is this your first? Would you just stop? Would you have just stop? I will walk with it. No, you're gonna get another charge.

No, you're, you're hurting. Just walk. We're not hurry. You walk, you won't get it. Simple. Don't put it away. I'm not harassing me. How do you keep me?

Are you fucking? This is you. We're gonna go down to. It's not okay. It's not okay. Ma'am, you got an ID in this purse? My ID's in my purse. In your other purse?

Now, that's what you guys are paid for. It's not okay. The girl with the red hair, it's not okay. Now, at this point, Nash is in handcuffs, but if officers thought, you know, the hard part was over, they were wrong. Because Nash appears to continue to yell and curse as they walk her through the airside concourse. She allegedly accused them of mistreating her, insisted she wasn't a criminal, and demanded to be released. Listen, here's the thing is, I can walk, but you don't have to push me. We're not pushing you.

You are. Can we just walk at my own level? I'm not like trying to know, why are you kidding me? Listen, because somebody hit him, they hurt really bad. They're not made for comfort. I'm not a criminal. Look at me in my eyes. You can't.

Look at me. You're walking. No, just look at me. You can't because you know that I'm not. We gave you every opportunity to get off the plane. Stop! This is not right, you're fine. My husband is familiar and it's not okay.

That does nothing do with you not getting off the plane. No, no. What you are doing? It's not okay. I did listen. You never. You're not right. Can you at least just loose and have the, it's hurting me on my wrist?

I have three fingers in there. There's plenty of room. No, my wrists are hurting. And I'm not a criminal, sir. And so you were. I'm not a criminal. Look at me in my eyes. I'm not a f***

criminal. Yeah. What is wrong with you, guys? Look at my tag. This is so f***ed up with my car. This is so f***ed up. Can you please just, like, lose his feet? Look at them.

My mother. No, look at them. No, that's on the left one. The left, the left. Stop! Just fucking let go. I will walk. You don't have to hold me.

Listen, you do not have to fucking hold me. Call came over here. Unless you want to pack out. Do you guys have anything else? Where is my other bag? We got your stuff. Can you please just let go and get you walk. No, they have to hold you because you're going to.

I'm not going to turn. Run, just let me just a rock. It's where you're crazy. I'm not a fucking criminal. Trump in the art of the deal, he'd be like, this is so fucked up. This is not right. You guys go home every night, you're like,

this is not right what I'm doing. I don't, I, listen, can you do me a favor? I don't, I, listen, can you do me a favor? I don't walk, are you guys talking? Are you just letting me? I am, but you don't have to hold me. You don't have to hold me? No, you do not.

No, you need not eat that. You want to hold me, I thought. Are you fucking kidding me? Just love me. So, no, just getting, where he is breathing for a second. No, I can't. Come on, and how to fucking he just let go? So by this point, Nash is still shouting at officers as they lead her toward the patrol car.

And that is when a police supervisor steps forward, trying to calm her down and explain the next step before she searched and placed inside the car. No. Listen, please just have a leg free call. I just wanted to let me go. I'm Lieutenant Porter. Listen to me. I'm their supervisors.

Listen to me. I have to patch you down. Okay. So he's going to study you. Okay. Because your handcuffs. I understand. Okay.

So give me, is there anything on you that the shark? Okay. Look at me. Are you putting me? I know. Okay, so just stay calm. Yeah, exactly. You're doing great.

Just breathe. Perfect. Would you please let go on my arm? No. I've been an abused woman. I've been hit by a man. I need to just let's home. What's your first name? What's your first name? Lauren.

I need him to just stop grabbing my arm and so aggressive. Listen to me. Listen to me, Lauren, okay? You are handcuffed and you are intoxicated. We don't want you to fall on your face, okay? I'm not entitled. So he, well, he doesn't want you to fall. said that I was intoxicated. I'm not intoxicated. There's nothing that you guys will find in my purse and my belongings. There might be a couple hundred dollars to cash in my purse. There's nothing that you guys are going to find. I just want you to lighten up your grip, please. There are so many things that you guys need to concentrate on. It's not me.

Can you please? Can you please? Yeah, yeah, I don't deserve it. Ma'am, go ahead and hop in. I can't hop in. I need to. I'm holding you so you don't fall. Put your left foot in first.

Good. Good. Does this make you guys get off? Like, what the . Your head? Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Do I deserve this?

You can't even look at me in the face. And you know it's wrong. It's not wrong. If you screwed up forward, there's easier on your wrist. And even after being taken into custody, Nash continues to shout and struggle, seemingly refusing to get out of the vehicle. And officers have to navigate this apparent erratic behavior while ensuring she remains. safe and the situation doesn't escalate any further bring me where I belong or I will you over and your family do you understand one four six what eleven

one four six one eleven one four six and one eleven one four six and one eleven do not oh my gosh you guys are so out of line Good things my friends are friends with Trump and the art of the deal. Like are you guys happy with what you've done? Are you happy with where you're at? Like is this what you fucking signed up for? Are you kidding me? Yeah, I am clearly upset.

And your wife at home would do the same... Same thing, sir. I'm not stupid. I'm upset. I would have already been home already. Don't think of her for a second, second that I don't recognize that you and your partner here that's driving are human as well as I am. Military fucking wife.

This is how you guys are treating me. Are you fucking kidding me? Go home, look at your wife, do the same thing to her. If she speaks your fucking mind and somebody at the airport that's black doesn't like her! Yeah, you heard me. Racist bitch. Put it on record.

Motherfri. You do the same thing at home when you go to bed. So do you. Yeah, Dation. M. M. M. M. M. Fitting me. I know what you guys see. I know what you guys hear.

I might have my hands behind my back, but I guarantee you, I'll see you in court in a few weeks, mother-friker. Oh, I'm in... Thank you. F*** you. I'm in Florida.

Oh, my God. Somebody's going to come bail her out. I'm not fucking you and your wife, motherfucker. Thank you. Come again. Thank you. I don't know. I'm sorry.

Okay. Mm-hmm. location, ending on which, three, two, no, where are you? Uh, you've been a live one. Yeah, she refused to get off a plane, and she's reportedly intoxicated. That is not true, you are lying. Please go through my purse. Go through all my belongings.

There is nothing that you will find that is intoxicating to anything. All her stuff is a boat. Yeah, all my stuff, fine. Go through all of it is okay. I'm not hiding anything. Thank you. What I would appreciate is some water and some fresh air. Listen.

Listen, sir, I'm not... You got a lot of fresh air on the ride over. That's fine. I want to be let out on this side. You're getting out on that side. Sir? Sir, were you the one that drove with us here, or are you new? All right, Laura, come on. No, listen, I'm not comfortable with any of the officers that drove me here.

I'm not comfortable. No, listen, I want, no, I think... You don't come out. Listen, on your own accord, sir, you're going to be pulled out. can get out on my own accord on something that did not drive me here. I do not feel safe for anybody that drove me here. No, I want somebody that did not drive me here to ask me to get out of the car and I would be okay with it. Let that be known. I know my rights. I don't care who it is as long as it's not anybody that was in this vehicle all the way here. Do you understand what I'm requesting?

You can step out on your own. I will request, I will step out on my own happily with somebody that did not drive me here. He's right here. I want him to come here and I want him to ask me to come out of the vehicle. Come on, man. Let's come on. So we can get it done. Come on. Can you come here? No, I just want one hand, please. Thank you. Eventually, Nash was booked, charged with disorderly intoxication, and this incident, which apparently started with a few drinks at the airport bar, it ended in handcuffs, it ended in police reports, and it ended with an absolutely viral body cam video. That is all we have for you right now here on Sidebar.

Everybody, thank you so much for joining us. And as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcast. You can follow me on X or Instagram. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll see you next time. or Spotify.