Who is woman behind viral “not real” video and what has she said about meltdown?

The woman at the centre of a viral meltdown in which she accused a fellow passenger on an American Airlines plane of not being “real” has broken her silence.

Tiffany Gomas, a 38-year-old marketing executive who was first identified by the New York Post, has spoken to the Daily Mail about the fall-out from the episode.

Gomas rant on July Dallas-Orlando flight goes viral

Video footage posted on TikTok on 2 July shows a visibly distressed Gomas shortly before American Airlines flight AA1009 was due to depart Dallas, Texas, for Orlando, Florida.

In the footage, of which multiple versions have been shared on social media, Gomas can be seen shouting at the other passengers as she makes to disembark the plane.

“I’m telling you, I’m getting the fuck off, and there’s a reason why I’m getting the fuck off,” Gomas yells. “Everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it. I don’t give two fucks. But I’m telling you right now, that motherfucker, that motherfucker back there is not real.

“And you can fucking sit on this plane and you can fucking die with him or not. I’m not going to.”

“My life has been blown up”

In an interview with the Mail this week, Gomas said: “My life has been blown up. It’s frightening. Things go viral and everything changes.

“They’re staking out my house. They’re staking out my neighbors. They’re going through my mail.” Gomas added: “So much of what’s out there is inaccurate.” Asked by the Mail to go into greater detail, she refused.

What police said about “not real” rant

According to police documents obtained by the Post, the viral footage was preceded by an argument between Gomas and family members she was travelling with, whom she accused of stealing her AirPods.

“The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination,” the police records read.

In the wake of Gomas’ meltdown, all passengers were deplaned in order to be re-screened at airport security, causing a delay to the flight. Having been escorted to the non-secure area of the airport, Gomas then tried to return to departures to re-board, but was refused entry.

Police later found her sitting on the curb outside the airport, waiting for an Uber. She was given a ticket for criminal trespass but refused to sign it, and was never arrested.

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