'You've infected everyone!' Germaphobe 'body slams woman who was coughing on his flight'

By Michael Zennie
Updated:

Patrick White

Germaphobe: Patrick White was arrested for allegedly body-slamming a woman who coughed on his plane ride

Patrick White had a serious problem with the woman coughing on his American Airlines flight to Jacksonville International Airport in Florida.

The 31-year-old Georgia man spend the plane ride harassing the sick 19-year-old, according to police.

Unsatisfied that he had made his point, as passengers were getting off the plane last week, he began calling her obscene names and telling her that she had 'infected everyone' on the flight.

He then charged her and body slammed her with his shoulder, knocking her against the wall, flight said.

He was arrested on charges of misdemeanor battery.

According to a police report, he 'continually harassed and chastised (the woman) for coughing and 'spreading disease"' while they were on the plane last week.

The man was apparently so afraid of getting sick that he became enraged during the flight, police said.

A small irony: After his arrest he was taken to county jail.

However, White might have had a point, of sorts. A new study suggests air travelers have a 20 percent chance of catching a cold or other bug.

Jacksonville International Airport concourse

Bad behavior:The incident occurred at Jacksonville International Airport in Florida on a charge of battery

The Centers for Disease Control says travelers are most at risk from catching a virus from fellow passengers within a two seat radius.

Experts say wiping down tray tables and other surfaces with disinfectant wipes can help prevent the spread of diseases on an airplane.

And in many ways, the recirculated air is fresher than the air most people breathe in their office buildings, since it always contains air from the outside and, in modern aircraft, is passed through a filter.


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