A Florida Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a 79-year-old JetBlue passenger at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, police said Wednesday.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Janiyah Wilson-Robinson, 21, of Margate, was charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older, a felony offense under Florida law.
Authorities allege she forcefully pushed the elderly woman, a Palm Beach Gardens resident, during a security interaction, causing the woman to fall and strike her forehead.
The victim reportedly sustained minor bruises. Although paramedics arrived and provided an ice pack, she declined to be taken to the hospital for further treatment.
The incident took place in a high-traffic area of the airport, prompting concern among travelers and renewed scrutiny of TSA employee conduct.
Wilson-Robinson was booked at the North Broward Bureau detention facility and spent the night in custody before being released Thursday on a $1,000 bond. TSA has since placed her on administrative leave pending an internal review.
In a statement to Local 10 News, a TSA spokesperson said:
“TSA holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and we do not tolerate behavior that violates these standards or the public’s trust… We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation.”
While the motive behind the physical confrontation remains unclear, officials have not ruled out whether surveillance footage may offer additional insight. No charges have been filed against the passenger, and no other injuries were reported.
The investigation is ongoing, and the case could carry serious legal consequences for Wilson-Robinson under Florida Statutes.
