Passenger restrained with duct tape on American Airlines flight after midair outburst

<p>A passenger on an American Airlines flight was restrained to his seat with duct tape and zip ties after a midair outburst, resulting in the plane being diverted. The flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark, New Jersey, made an unexpected stop in Baltimore late Thursday night due to the disruptive passenger, who was reportedly putting others at risk.</p><p>Witnesses stated that the man was allegedly yelling racial and homophobic slurs during the incident, according to TMZ. Video footage shows crew and passengers securing the man to his seat as he resisted. Photos depict the man restrained with duct tape and zip ties.</p><p>The chaos reportedly began about two hours into the flight when the man started yelling at a male passenger next to him. According to TMZ, he was shouting about Jesus and hell, prompting a flight attendant to intervene in an attempt to calm him down.</p><p>During the altercation, the man allegedly used a racial slur against a Black flight attendant and made anti-gay remarks. He also reportedly became violent, hitting the passenger beside him. A female passenger attempted to assist but was pushed by the man, leading to three male passengers intervening.</p><p>Juan Mejia, a retired law enforcement officer, described the situation, stating, "Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos." He observed the man assaulting the passenger next to him.</p><p>Flight attendants provided duct tape and zip ties to the three male passengers, who restrained the man as he tried to escape. American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the plane was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where law enforcement took the man into custody.</p><p>American Airlines stated, "On Sept. 3, American Airlines flight 618 diverted to Baltimore (BWI) due to a disruptive customer. Upon arrival, law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination." The airline emphasized that the safety and security of customers and team members is a top priority and expressed gratitude to team members for their professionalism.</p><p>The FBI reported that the Maryland Transportation Police arrested and booked the man on state charges. A spokesperson for the FBI stated that they are conducting interviews to gather facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed.</p>