U.S. airline passenger duct-taped to seat after wild outburst

Allegedly intoxicated man began yelling at seatmate and screamed racial and anti-gay slurs, witnesses say

Published Sep 05, 2026  •  Last updated 18 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

American Airlines passenger aircraft are seen at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, Aug. 27, 2026. Photo by Charly Triballeau / AFP /Getty Images

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An allegedly intoxicated man had to be restrained to his seat with duct tape Thursday following a wild outburst aboard a U.S. flight.

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Celebrity news site TMZ was first to obtain video and photos of the unruly passenger on an American Airlines flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport.

Witnesses said the man, who was allegedly drunk, started yelling at a male passenger seated next to him about Jesus and going to hell.

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“Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos,” Juan Mejia, a retired law enforcement officer, told CBS New York.

“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.”

Tried to calm man down

A flight attendant tried to calm the man down, but he allegedly called her a racial epithet.

“He called one of the flight attendants the N word,” fellow passenger Richard Olenick said.

The man’s behaviour apparently became more intense and violent as he allegedly hit his seatmate and struck the victim’s computer while also yelling anti-gay slurs.

Mejia and Olenick, who were sitting two rows in front of the unruly passenger, jumped in to help restrain the man with duct tape and zip ties provided by a flight attendant.

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Bit fellow traveller

However, the passenger fought back and bit Mejia’s hand.

“He didn’t break skin, just left teeth marks on my hand,” Mejia said. “We were covered in his blood. He was bleeding quite a bit from cuts that he inflicted on himself.”

Mejia said one of the stewardesses told him the passenger was only given one alcoholic drink.

The man was restrained for about 15 minutes as the pilot diverted the flight to Baltimore.

Disruptive passenger removed

“On Sept. 3, American Airlines flight 618 diverted to Baltimore (BWI) due to a disruptive customer,” the airline said in a statement to CBS. “Upon arrival, law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination.

“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 told the outlet that the man was arrested by Maryland Transportation Authority Police and is facing state charges.

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