Full text
A disruptive passenger on an American Airlines flight Thursday night who was reportedly screaming racial and anti-gay slurs at a flight attendant ended up getting bound to his seat with duct tape, according to TMZ. TMZ obtained video and photos of the incident, which happened on a flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. It all started when the man, who witnesses say appeared drunk, allegedly started yelling at a male passenger seated next to him.
The man was screaming about Jesus and going to hell, according to TMZ sources, which prompted a Black flight attendant to walk over to try and deescalate the situation. That’s when the man allegedly hurled a racial slur and anti-gay remarks at the flight attendant. Witnesses said his behavior became so intense and violent that he hit the passenger next to him and struck his computer.
That’s when flight attendants handed duct tape and zip ties to several male passengers, who used the items to restrain the unruly passenger, according to TMZ. Video obtained by TMZ shows the crew and other passengers restraining the man in his seat after he witnesses said he tried to put up a fight. Photos show the man completely wrapped up in the tape, including his head and hands.
The flight was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport due to the incident, the FAA confirms. Law enforcement met the plane at the gate and took the man into custody, American Airlines confirmed. A spokesperson tells the publication that the Maryland Transportation Police arrested and booked the man on state charges, and the FBI is consulting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed.
A spokesperson for American Airlines told TMZ, “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 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.”
https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/unruly-passenger-bound-with-duct-tape-mid-flight/
For me - the video embed at the link and the TMZ link are both 403 - https://www.tmz.com/2026/09/04/man-gets-duct-taped-on-american-airlines-flight/
top 50 comments