LAX Baggage Handler Caught Carelessly Tossing Expensive Guitars

A college student has garnered significant attention on TikTok by sharing a shocking video of a baggage handler at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) tossing guitars onto the tarmac, raising serious concerns about the handling of fragile musical instruments.

Nick Ruiz, a 21-year-old student, filmed the incident on March 16 while traveling back to New York. His TikTok clip quickly went viral, amassing over four million views within a week. Viewers expressed outrage over the handler’s apparent disregard for the delicate nature of the instruments, prompting thousands of comments criticizing the situation. Ruiz cleverly captioned his video, “I hope your guitars are okay.”

While waiting for his flight at Terminal 4, Ruiz witnessed the incident unfold outside his window as the closest arriving flight was from JFK on a Boeing 777. In a statement to Jam Press, he shared, “I took that same plane back to JFK.…My instinct was to start filming.”

@goyamariacookie
I hope your guitars are ok #LAX #losangeles #airport #guitartok

♬ Good Cumbia – La Cumbia Group

Ruiz’s footage sparked widespread conversation about the treatment of instruments in air travel, with many commenters expressing deep concern for the safety of these valuable items. One user implored, “Just don’t work there if you hate the job so much!” Another emotionally stated, “As a musician, this hurts my heart. Dreams and love are in those cases!” Suggestions for disciplinary action included phrases like, “That should be a fireable offense, ” while others suggested the handling seemed more deliberate than careless.

Essential Tips for Traveling Musicians: Protect Your Instruments

In light of this incident, it’s crucial for musicians to consider protective measures when flying with their instruments. Although many viewers referenced the infamous song “United Breaks Guitars, ” the specific airline in question was not disclosed. Nonetheless, the US Department of Transportation provides valuable advice for musicians seeking to safeguard their instruments during travel.

Musicians are advised to:

Utilize a hard-shell case clearly marked as ‘Fragile’.
Supplement packing with rolled-up clothing or bubble wrap to cushion instruments against jostling.
Loosen strings on stringed instruments to prevent breakage during transit.
Preferably carry instruments on board as carry-on luggage, or even purchase an extra seat for larger instruments.

An electric guitar placed on the ground. — Image Source: Unsplash.com – Jeremy Allouche

The US Department of Transportation emphasizes the significance of musicians taking proactive steps to protect their instruments while traveling.

This recent event follows a trend of viral airplane incidents, such as a recent dramatic situation where fighter jets intercepted a plane to prevent a passenger from misusing stolen air miles.

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