Passenger restrained with duct tape after violent incident on American Airlines flight to Newark

A passenger on American Airlines Flight 618 became violent during a Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark trip, prompting crew and other passengers to restrain him with flexible handcuffs and duct tape. The incident occurred about halfway through the flight, leading the pilots to divert the aircraft to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport for an emergency landing.

According to two passengers, Richard Olenick and retired New Jersey police officer Juan Mejia, the man in the first-class cabin escalated from profanity to physical aggression, striking a nearby passenger and a woman who tried to intervene. "He was starting to become abusive and started using profanity," Olenick said, adding that the man also used racial and homophobic slurs.

A flight attendant provided zip ties, which the three men used to bind the passenger's wrists. When the man attempted to bite both Mejia and Olenick, they applied duct tape from the flight attendant to further restrict his movement, taking care not to cover his mouth. "Physically it lessened his ability to move for sure, but it did not solve the issue. He was still pushing and resisting and trying to get up," Olenick said.

The plane landed safely in Maryland, where Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested the passenger on state charges, according to an FBI statement. After the passenger was removed, the flight continued to Newark.

American Airlines said the safety and security of customers and crew 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 FAA reports more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents in 2024 and notes that airlines carry handcuffs and duct tape for such situations. Penalties can include fines exceeding $43,000 for passengers who assault or threaten crew members.