Horror on the plane in the USA: Passenger attacked, neutralized with duct tape

What happened on a passenger plane flying to Newark in the USA was like a movie scene. During the flight, a passenger first attacked those around him and then resisted those who tried to stop him; The incident escalated so much that the plane had to change course and make an emergency landing.

According to CNN International, the incident on American Airlines Flight 618 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark started after more than half of the flight was completed. When a passenger sitting in the first class section became increasingly aggressive, the cabin attendant tried to intervene.

However, the intervention was not enough. Allegedly, the passenger first started hitting the person sitting next to him and then started attacking a woman who tried to intervene.

Retired New Jersey police officer Juan Mejia, who was on the plane at the time, got up to intervene. Richard Olenick joined him.

According to Olenick, the aggressive passenger was swearing and using racist and homophobic expressions. Three people managed to tie the attacker's hands with plastic handcuffs given by the cabin attendant. But the real surprising moments happened after that.

The passenger, who was trying to be neutralized, this time bit Mejia and tried to bite Olenick. Thereupon, the cabin crew had to bring duct tape and tape the attacker to the seat.

It was stated that the passenger's mouth was not taped on Mejia's advice. Despite this, the attacker did not calm down; He constantly tried to move, resist and get up.

Olenick was forced to sit on the aggressive passenger's lap for approximately 15 minutes. Although he tried to move to his own seat for a while, he sat on the passenger again when he moved again.

After what happened, the flight crew reported the situation and the plane headed to Maryland. American Airlines Flight 618 made an emergency landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

After the plane landed on the runway, Maryland Transportation Authority Police met the plane and detained one person under state law. The FBI did not disclose the identity of the person detained.

It was stated that the flight continued to Newark after the aggressive passenger was removed from the plane. Olenick said they don't know exactly how the incident started, but what happened was "quite complicated."

Duct tape and flexible plastic handcuffs can be found on commercial airliners to neutralize violent or uncontrollable passengers.

A similar incident occurred on an American Airlines plane flying from Milwaukee to Dallas in 2024. The passenger, who tried to force open the plane door and injured a cabin attendant, was fixed to his seat with duct tape.

According to FAA data, more than 1,160 incidents of non-compliant passengers have been reported since the beginning of the year.

Airlines administrations may impose a fine of over 43 thousand dollars on passengers who attack, threaten, intimidate, or prevent cabin crew from performing their duties.

In its statement, American Airlines stated that the safety of passengers and employees is their top priority and thanked the professionalism of the flight crew and the understanding of the passengers.