A newly released surveillance video has unveiled the dramatic scene where a suspect breached the TSA checkpoint at Atlanta’s airport last year, only to be quickly intercepted by a vigilant bystander who subdued him within moments.

The footage, made public following a request for open records, captures the incident from the morning of October 30 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta on Thursday.

Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Fabian Leon, who now faces charges of simple battery and attempting to evade security protocols, according to the news outlet.

The video shows Leon dashing through the airport in a bid to reach the TSA checkpoint.

A vigilant bystander quickly tackled the man who allegedly tried to bypass security at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on October 30, 2025. (Fox 5 Atlanta)

As he approached the initial screening area, Leon appeared to aggressively push past an agent, knocking the officer to the ground and stumbling over him in the process.

A TSA officer then reacted and reportedly yelled “breach,” prompting bystander Mark Thomas to turn around without hesitation.

Thomas then appeared to quickly lunge at Leon, swiftly grabbing and lifting him up before bodyslamming the suspect to the ground.

Fabian Leon allegedly tried to push his way through airport security on Oct. 30, 2025.  (Fox 5 Atlanta)

“I saw him knock over the first dude and then a TSA agent tried to grab him, and once he was going to get past me, I was just like, okay, I’ll just take over if I can,” Thomas said, according to Fox 5.  

Immediately after the incident, the bystander recalled Leon acting oddly calm and “detached” from the situation, even appearing “soft-spoken” as he repeatedly told everyone he was okay and asked to be let up.

“He was very soft-spoken. He just kept saying, ‘Oh, I’m okay, I’m okay, let me up, let me up, I’m okay’,” Thomas said. “It’s like, kind of clear, that he was sort of detached from the entire situation.”

Police said Leon later told officers that he had consumed alcohol and taken drugs shortly before the incident, the outlet reported.

Fabian Leon, 40, faces multiple charges including simple battery and avoiding security measures. (Fox 5 Atlanta)

Authorities ultimately secured Leon by detaining him in a chair at the scene, according to the footage. 

During the scuffle, police said three of their officers were also assaulted.

Authorities detained suspect Fabian Leon after allegedly trying to breach security measures at an Atlanta airport on Oct. 30, 2025. (Fox 5 Atlanta)

While Thomas said he would step in again if needed, the airport could benefit from additional police presence.

“I think more police presence should have probably been there, it shouldn’t have taken me to take him down,” Thomas said, according to Fox 5. “I don’t know how many checkpoints or people he got passed before that.”