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Man acting violent on US flight duct-taped to plane seat by passengers
The incident one week before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks sparked concern on the plane.
September 05, 2026, 06:30 PM
Photos from @aviationbrk X
A man in the United States was duct-taped to the seat of a plane after he acted in a disruptive manner mid-flight, CNN reported.
A ziptie was also applied on his wrists.
Photos and videos of the unusual restraints on him were posted online.
What happened
American Airlines Flight 618 was travelling from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark when the crew reported the passenger disturbance, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement, as per CNN.
The man was seated in the first-class section, it was reported.
The plane was diverted to make an emergency landing in Baltimore on Thursday night, Sep. 3, 2026.
The incident occurred more than halfway into the flight as the man reportedly started acting belligerent.
Tried to control situation at first
A fellow passenger said a flight attendant tried to control the situation, but the man became more agitated.
He even started to hit the passenger next to him and then hit a woman who tried to intervene, the eyewitness said.
The man also used “racial and homophobic slurs”.
When the man tried to get more physical to fight off the passengers trying to subdue him, even trying to bite them, he was duct-taped.
The passengers made sure not to tape over his mouth in case it hindered his breathing, CNN reported.
Terrorism concerns
One of the passengers who acted to restrain the man said the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in a week's time was already on the passengers' minds, which made the situation even more concerning.
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police met the plane after it safely landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
An FBI statement said one man was arrested.
The man was not named.
The flight continued on its way to Newark after the man was removed.
Duct tape and flexible handcuffs are found on many commercial planes for in the event restraining violent or disruptive passengers is required, CNN reported.
