A disruptive passenger aboard an American Airlines flight bound for Newark, New Jersey, was subdued with duct tape on Thursday after allegedly directing racial slurs at crew members and physically confronting another traveler. The aircraft, which had departed from Dallas, was diverted to Baltimore, where the individual was taken into custody.
Witness Describes Chaotic Scene in First-Class Cabin
Michelle Ng-Reyes, a passenger on the flight, told NBC New York that the man was “thrashing around” in his seat as flight attendants and fellow passengers attempted to restrain him at the rear of the first-class cabin. She recounted that the man appeared to have injured himself and was bleeding on the seat, and that he was assaulting the man seated beside him, who was wearing a suit.
Ng-Reyes, who was seated near an air marshal, said that three men held the passenger down while repeatedly urging him to stop moving, stop yelling, and sit down. A video obtained by TMZ shows the restraint effort.
Racial Slurs and Concerns for Safety
According to Ng-Reyes, other passengers heard the man direct racially offensive remarks at the man next to him. She also stated that he seemed to target his anger at Black flight attendants. The witness expressed fear that the man might attempt to enter the cockpit, which she described as “obviously pretty scary.”
Arrest and Federal Involvement
The passenger was removed from the plane in Baltimore and arrested by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, according to a statement from the FBI’s Baltimore field office. His name has not been released, and it remains unclear whether he is still in custody. The FBI said it is conducting interviews to gather facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges will be filed. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment.
Flight Delay and Airline Response
The flight was originally scheduled to land in Newark three and a half hours after takeoff, but the diversion and delay extended the journey to roughly eight hours, Ng-Reyes said.
American Airlines issued a statement emphasizing that the safety and security of customers and team members is its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence. The airline thanked its team members for their professionalism and customers for their understanding.
