American Airlines

In this May 15, 2014 photo, a ramp worker rolls past an American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82 at the Tampa International Airport in Tampa , Fla.

(Chris O'Meara | The Associated Press)

An American Airlines passenger was hauled off a plane at La Guardia Airport after throwing a tantrum because the airline staff wished him a "Merry Christmas."

According to a report from the New York Post, this particular Grinch was waiting to board American Airlines Flight 1140 to Dallas on Tuesday. When a gate agent greeting everyone the same way told him "Merry Christmas", he responded "You shouldn't say that because not everyone celebrates Christmas."

"Well, what should I say then?" the agent reportedly replied.

"Don't say, 'Merry Christmas!'" the man retorted, now shouting, before walking past her onto the plane.

After a flight attendant greeted the unidentified man with the same Yuletide cheer, he snapped and began lecturing the staff about why they shouldn't say "Merry Christmas." The crew unsuccessfully tried calming him down before he was escorted off the plane.

Other passengers reportedly burst into cheers and applause when he left.

The Daily Mail reported that the plane departed 40 minutes later than scheduled, though it was unknown if the delay was related to the passenger's outburst. American Airlines did not return the Posts request for comment.

2014 has been full of headlines about unruly passengers causing headaches for airlines and their employees.

In May, a drunken US Airways passenger forced a plane headed overseas to turn around after he groped three women on the flight.

A flight to Denver was diverted to Chicago in August after a fight began over one passenger's use of a "knee defender," a device that prevents the seat in front of the user from reclining.

In October, amid heightened anxiety about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, one passenger on a US Airways flight decided it would be funny to shout "I have Ebola. You're all screwed." Passengers were forced to wait for two hours for hazmat teams to come escort the passenger from the plane.