Passenger restrained with handcuffs and duct tape after violent incident on American Airlines flight to Newark
A disruptive passenger on American Airlines Flight 618 was secured with flexible handcuffs and duct tape after assaulting fellow travelers, leading to an emergency landing in Baltimore where he was arrested.
A passenger on American Airlines Flight 618, traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark, became physically aggressive in the first-class cabin, striking nearby passengers and using profanity, racial and homophobic slurs, according to two fellow travelers. A retired New Jersey police officer and another passenger intervened, securing the man's wrists with a zip tie provided by a flight attendant. When the man bit them, they used duct tape from the crew to further restrain him, taking care not to cover his mouth.
The crew reported the disturbance to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the aircraft made an emergency landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Maryland Transportation Authority Police met the plane and arrested the individual on state charges, according to an FBI statement. After the arrest, the flight resumed its journey to Newark.
American Airlines said the safety and security of customers and team members is its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence. The airline thanked its staff for their professionalism and passengers for their understanding.
The incident adds to a growing number of unruly passenger reports, with the FAA documenting more than 1,160 such events in 2024. The agency can impose fines exceeding $43,000 for assaults or threats against airline crew members.