Bystanders tackle angry man who attacked airport customer for wearing pink shirt

A belligerent American homophobe has been tackled to the ground by bystanders after lashing out a man at an airport for wearing a pink shirt.

The disturbing scene unfolded at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport on Thursday as a man with a thick southern drawl accused another passenger of being gay, local TV station WFAA reports.

As the man in the pink shirt was subjected to homophobic abuse he began to record his tormentor on a mobile phone, which appeared to further enrage the abuser.

Bystander Andrew Kennedy also began filming from a short distance away as the exchange escalated.

When a man in a cowboy hat asks the man why he is so angry he replies "Queers is what I am upset about. This faggot right here."

Moments later the man kicks his victim in the groin and punches him in the face.

A number of passers-by immediately crash-tackle the man and restrain him until two police officers arrive and cuff him.

As the officers restrain the man a passenger asks why he attacked the man in the pink shirt.

"You want me to tell you the reason why I did? Because this is America. That's why," he says.

"The same reason you get to live, to breathe, to walk black."

Mr Kennedy said the man was "absolutely crazy".

His brother Neal who also witnessed the attack described the man as "very troubled ".

"We hope that he was under the influence of some kind of substance because if he wasn't and that's his true personality, then he's going to have a long road in front of him."

Dallas-Fort Worth Airport confirmed that the incident had occurred on Thursday but would not comment further.

No police report that identifies the man at the centre of the dispute has been released.

Source: WFAA