An American Airlines passenger was restrained with duct tape and zip ties after a violent mid-flight outburst forced a Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark flight to divert to Baltimore on Thursday night. The incident occurred when the passenger began yelling and assaulting the person seated next to him, according to fellow travelers and the airline.
Passenger assaults seatmate, prompting emergency response
The disruption began suddenly, as described by passenger Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement worker who spoke to CBS. “Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos,” Mejia said. “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.”
A flight attendant attempted to calm the man, but he allegedly responded with a racial slur and made homophobic comments. The situation escalated to the point where the crew and passengers determined the individual posed a risk to everyone on board.
Passengers intervene with zip ties and duct tape
With the help of another passenger, Richard Olenick, Mejia restrained the disruptive man using zip ties and wrapped him in duct tape. The flight was then forced to divert to Baltimore, where law enforcement and medical personnel met the aircraft.
American Airlines issued a statement emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy for violence: “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.”
FBI investigates potential federal charges
The FBI confirmed it is looking into the incident. “The FBI is currently conducting interviews to gather the facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed,” the agency said in a statement.
The diverted flight eventually continued to its original destination, Newark, after the unruly passenger was removed. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details about the passenger’s identity or potential charges have been released.
