4 minNews
American Airlines passenger restrained with duct tape after midair outburst forces diversion
A disruptive passenger on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark was restrained with duct tape and zip ties by fellow travelers after allegedly assaulting another passenger and shouting racial and homophobic slurs. The plane was diverted to Baltimore, where the man was arrested on state charges.
A passenger aboard an American Airlines flight was restrained to his seat with duct tape and zip ties after a violent midair outburst, forcing the aircraft to divert to Baltimore late Thursday night. The flight, operating as American Airlines flight 618 from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark, New Jersey, made an unscheduled stop at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport after the unidentified man began screaming racial and homophobic slurs and allegedly assaulted a fellow passenger.
Witnesses said the chaos erupted roughly two hours into the flight when the man started yelling at a male passenger seated next to him. According to video footage and witness accounts, the man shouted religious statements about Jesus and hell before a flight attendant intervened. The man then directed a racial slur at the flight attendant, who is Black, and made anti-gay remarks, according to reports. The situation escalated when the man struck the passenger beside him and pushed a female passenger who attempted to help.
Three male passengers stepped in to subdue the man, including Juan Mejia, a retired law enforcement officer who described the sudden shift in the cabin atmosphere. «Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos,» Mejia told CBS Texas. «I turned around to look, and the poor gentleman that was sitting next to him in the aisle seat, the individual had his hands around his neck and was, like, assaulting him.»
Flight attendants provided duct tape and zip ties to the three passengers, who secured the unruly man to his seat and held him down as he attempted to break free. Photos from the scene show the man fully restrained, with his head also taped to the seat. The crew and passengers maintained the restraint until the aircraft landed in Baltimore, where law enforcement officers boarded the plane and took the man into custody.
American Airlines confirmed the diversion in a statement, saying the flight continued to its original destination after the disruptive customer was removed. «The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we do not tolerate violence. We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding,» the airline said.
The Federal Aviation Administration also confirmed the diversion. The FBI said the Maryland Transportation Police arrested and booked the man on state charges. A spokesperson for the FBI stated that agents are conducting interviews to gather facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges will be filed.
The incident adds to a series of recent disruptions aboard commercial flights that have drawn attention to passenger behavior and the challenges crews face in maintaining order at altitude. Airlines have increasingly relied on passenger assistance in extreme situations, though federal regulations prohibit interfering with crew members and allow for significant penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment, for disruptive behavior.
