According to TMZ, a entertainment magazine owned by the Fox Group in the United States, on September 3, a passenger on a flight of American Airlines lost control of their emotions and shouted offensive remarks against race and homosexuality. Eventually, they were tied down to their seats with tape.
According to reports, the flight involved flew from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport, with a stopover at Baltimore/Washington Reagan National Airport.
The scene photos show that the man was tied with tape and fixed to his seat, looking like a mummy.
Witnesses said that the man seemed to be drunk and started shouting at a male passenger sitting next to him.
According to sources, a black flight attendant stepped forward to try to calm the situation. It is said that the man used racially discriminatory language towards the flight attendant and made anti-gay remarks. The sources also said that the man became more violent, physically assaulting other passengers and even destroying their computers.
It is reported that a female passenger tried to intervene, but was pushed by the man. Three other male passengers stepped in to help.
According to sources, the flight attendants handed tape and ties to these three male passengers. They used these items to tie up the man who caused the disturbance on the seat. The man tried to escape, but the three people worked together to hold him down.
A spokesperson for American Airlines said, “On September 3, Flight 618 operated by American Airlines experienced chaos due to one passenger. The flight was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport. After landing, law enforcement officers removed the involved passenger from the plane, and the flight continued to its original destination.”
The spokesman said, “The safety of passengers and crew is our top priority. We do not tolerate violence. We thank the crew for their professionalism, and we also thank the other passengers for their understanding.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to the New York Post that the incident is under investigation. As of 2026, there have been more than “1,160 incidents of passengers being rude.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated that the suspect has been apprehended by the Maryland State Police and charged with state-level offenses.
