American banned from entering Colombia for 10 years after a rowdy incident at the airport (6 photos + 1 video)
Category: Interesting photo stories, PEGI 0+
Today, 05:07
A Tampa, Florida realtor has been banned from entering Colombia for 10 years after going on a rant at the South American country's airport, but he considers himself a victim. 
On July 16, Emmanuel Hernandez was standing in line at passport control at Rafael Nunez Airport when he suddenly took off his shirt and began attacking officials, both physically and verbally.
Hernandez, a New York native, was in Colombia for his father's 84th birthday. 
The man claims he felt ill after a two-day itinerary, overnight stays in hotels, a two-hour journey through Peru, and then landing at Cartagena airport.
"When I arrived in Cartagena, there was a huge line. I was not feeling well and the heat was unbearable. I took off my shirt," he explained to the Colombian publication Impacto News.
Hernandez claims that instead of helping, airport staff began recording his actions, which made him angry.
"When I took off my shirt, immigration officials or other people started recording me. I asked them to stop, explaining that this was part of my personal life and they should not do this. Instead of helping me and asking how I was doing, they started recording me, and that was my reaction," he said.
Several law enforcement officers detained the traveler.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry said Hernandez had attacked police officers and damaged an immigration control module. He was charged with property damage and eventually expelled from the country.
Hernandez, who lived in the country from the age of 9 to 14 and considers himself Colombian, disagrees with the punishment. He said his actions at the airport were a natural human reaction.
"These things happen, we are human and we all make mistakes. I am very ashamed. I made a mistake and I paid for it with all my soul. What hurts me most is that I will not be able to see my parents for the next 10 years," the realtor admitted.
Hernandez apologized to the authorities and pledged to compensate for the damage caused.
