Passenger duct-taped, zip-tied to seat after midair outburst on American Airlines
The passenger shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, assaulted a fellow passenger and pushed a woman before being restrained by other passengers and crew.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight was restrained to his seat with duct tape and zip ties following a midair outburst that forced the aircraft to divert to Baltimore, according to authorities and the airline.
American Airlines Flight 618 was travelling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark in the US when it made an unexpected stop at Baltimore airport late Thursday night after an unidentified passenger became disruptive and violent.
According to reports, the man began causing a disturbance about two hours into the flight, when he started yelling at another passenger seated next to him. He was reportedly shouting about Jesus and going to hell, prompting a flight attendant to approach him and try to calm him down, Fox News reported.
The situation then escalated, with the man directing a racial slur at the Black flight attendant and making anti-gay remarks. He also reportedly became physically aggressive and struck the passenger seated next to him.
A female passenger intervened in an attempt to help, but the man allegedly pushed her. Three other male passengers then stepped in to restrain him, according to the reports.
Video footage of the incident shows passengers and crew members attempting to hold the man in his seat as he appeared to resist. Photos from the incident showed him secured with duct tape and zip ties, with tape also used to hold his head against the seat.
One of the passengers who intervened, retired law enforcement officer Juan Mejia, described the sudden escalation of the incident in an interview with CBS Texas.
"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."
Flight attendants provided duct tape and zip ties to the three men, who restrained the passenger and held him down as he attempted to break free, according to reports.
American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the aircraft was diverted to Baltimore because of the disruptive passenger.
After the aircraft landed in Baltimore, law enforcement took the passenger into custody and he was subsequently arrested.
The identity of the passenger has not been disclosed.