An airline passenger was restrained with duct tape and zip ties by fellow travelers and crew members after allegedly launching into a racist and homophobic tirade during a midair outburst, prompting the flight to divert Thursday night, according to a report.
The passenger was traveling on American Airlines Flight 618 from Dallas to Newark when he reportedly erupted around 10:15 p.m., directing a heated, religious-tinged rant at the person seated beside him. A Black flight attendant and several passengers soon intervened to help bring the situation under control.
After the flight attendant stepped in, the man allegedly used the n-word toward him and shouted anti-gay slurs, TMZ reported.
Video from the flight shows the passenger strapped to his seat, with his hands, head and torso restrained as others worked to contain him.
During the chaotic episode, the man also became physical, allegedly hitting his seatmate and breaking the passenger’s computer.
A female passenger then tried to assist the man seated next to him, but the disruptive traveler shoved her back, according to the report.
Three male passengers eventually stepped in and helped restrain the unruly passenger using duct tape and zip ties.
American Airlines told The Post in a statement that the flight was diverted to Baltimore “due to a disruptive customer” and that, after landing, “law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the freakout is under investigation, and that there have been more than “1,160 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.”
An FBI spokesperson told The Post that the man was arrested by Maryland Transportation Police and booked on state charges.
The feds are working with the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges will be filed.
“The FBI is currently conducting interviews to gather the facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed,” the bureau said.
USAMD declined The Post’s request for comment.
Maryland Transportation Police did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
