Passenger duct-taped to first-class seat as American Airlines flight makes emergency landing

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: A disruptive passenger was restrained with flexible handcuffs and duct tape after an American Airlines flight was diverted to Baltimore on Thursday, September 3.

Photos and videos taken by passengers showed the man strapped to a first-class seat as the plane made an emergency landing. American Airlines Flight 618 was traveling from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark when the situation turned physical, according to passenger Richard Olenick.

The flight crew reported the disturbance, with the Federal Aviation Administration confirming that the plane was diverted to Baltimore.

Passengers Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia describe disturbance

Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia were more than halfway through the flight when a man sitting two rows behind them in first class allegedly became increasingly agitated.

Olenick said a flight attendant tried to control the situation, but the man began hitting the passenger sitting next to him. He then allegedly struck a woman who tried to intervene.

“He was starting to become abusive and started using profanity,” Olenick said. Both Olenick and Mejia said the man also used “racial and homophobic slurs.”

Mejia, a retired New Jersey police officer, got up after seeing the situation turn physical, and Olenick followed.

A flight attendant gave Olenick, Mejia, and a third person a zip tie, which they used to restrain the man’s wrists. The passenger continued resisting and reportedly told them to “get off me.”

The situation became more difficult when the man bit Mejia and tried to bite Olenick. The three men then used duct tape provided by a flight attendant to further restrain him.

Unruly passenger restrained with duct tape during emergency landing

Mejia advised the men not to cover the passenger’s mouth, and Olenick said they made sure the man could continue breathing.

“Physically it lessened his ability to move for sure, but it did not solve the issue. He was still pushing and resisting and trying to get up,” Olenick said.

For about 15 minutes, Olenick sat on the restrained passenger’s lap until the plane landed in Maryland.

He tried to return to his own seat at one point, but said he quickly had to get back because “the man started acting up again.”

The incident came as the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approached, making the situation especially concerning for the passengers.

“Juan being a being a cop, he lost people. I was probably three miles from it when it happened, so it’s a very sensitive time, and then this guy starts, you know, pulling this stuff,” Olenick said.

American Airlines said the safety of its customers and crew remained its priority.

“The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we do not tolerate violence,” the airline said. “We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”

Maryland police arrest one man after American Airlines flight lands

The plane safely landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where Maryland Transportation Authority Police met the aircraft.

One man was arrested on state charges, according to an FBI statement. Officials did not identify him.

After the passenger was removed, Flight 618 continued to Newark, Olenick said.

“We don’t know exactly what happened, what triggered it,” he added. “But whatever it was, it was pretty intense.”

Duct tape and flexible handcuffs are found on many commercial aircraft and can be used when violent or disruptive passengers need to be restrained.

The FAA said more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents have been reported so far this year.

The agency can also pursue fines of more than $43,000 against passengers who “assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members.”

The incident also comes after a 2024 case in which a passenger flying from Milwaukee to Dallas was duct-taped to his seat after allegedly trying to force open a door and injuring a flight attendant.