An American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark was diverted to Baltimore late Thursday after passengers used zip ties and duct tape to restrain a man who became violent mid-flight, according to news reports circulating Saturday.
About two hours into the flight, the man allegedly assaulted a fellow passenger seated next to him. Witnesses Juan Mejia, a retired law enforcement officer, and Richard Olenick, who were seated two rows ahead, said the situation escalated instantly.
“Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos,” Mejia told CBS News. “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.”
Mejia and Olenick said they intervened to help the passenger being attacked and subdued the man, ultimately restraining him with duct tape and zip ties supplied by flight attendants. A photo shared by Olenick, first published by TMZ, shows the man taped at the wrists, torso and head, immobilized in his seat. Video from the flight also shows other passengers attempting to calm him before the restraint was applied.
According to TMZ, a flight attendant initially tried to de-escalate the situation after the man, who appeared to be intoxicated, began yelling at the passenger beside him. The man reportedly responded with profanity along with racial and homophobic slurs.
The flight made an unscheduled stop in Baltimore, where law enforcement removed the man from the aircraft. The flight then continued on to its original destination in Newark.
American Airlines issued a statement following the incident: “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.”
The FBI confirmed to CBS News that the man is currently in custody facing state charges, while federal investigators continue to review the case. “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 bureau said in a statement.
