An American Airlines flight was diverted after a passenger allegedly hurled racist and anti-gay remarks before attacking those around him.
Passengers restrained and duct-taped a man to his seat after he allegedly became violent and shouted racist and anti-gay slurs during an American Airlines flight.
The incident unfolded aboard Flight 618 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport on September 3.
According to TMZ, eyewitnesses claimed the man appeared intoxicated when he began yelling at another passenger about Jesus and going to hell.
A black flight attendant reportedly approached in an attempt to calm him down, but the passenger allegedly responded with a racial slur and anti-gay remarks.
Passengers restrain man as flight diverts to Baltimore
The situation reportedly escalated when the man struck the passenger beside him and hit his computer.
A woman attempted to intervene but was allegedly pushed, prompting three male passengers to step in. Flight attendants handed them duct tape and zip ties, which they used to secure the man to his seat while he continued trying to break free.
Photos obtained by TMZ show the passenger wrapped tightly in duct tape around his body, hands, and head. Footage also appears to show passengers and crew holding him down during the struggle.
The plane was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and landed approximately 15 minutes later.
“Upon arrival, law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination,” American Airlines said. The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we do not tolerate violence.”
Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and removed the passenger before the flight continued to Newark. Maryland Transportation Police arrested and booked him on state charges, while the FBI said it was gathering information to determine whether federal charges should follow.
It is not the first time passengers have been forced to restrain an unruly traveler. In 2024, six passengers duct-taped a man who allegedly tried to open an emergency exit mid-flight.
More recently, an easyJet flight was forced to turn around after a family dispute reportedly erupted into a ten-passenger brawl
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
