An American Airlines flight bound for Newark, New Jersey, was forced to divert to Baltimore on Thursday after a passenger allegedly hurled racial slurs at crew members and physically attacked another traveler. The disruptive individual was ultimately subdued with duct tape and taken into custody upon landing.
Incident Details
According to witness Michelle Ng-Reyes, the passenger became increasingly agitated, thrashing in his seat and shouting offensive remarks. The altercation escalated when he allegedly assaulted a man seated beside him, who was dressed in a suit. Three other passengers and flight attendants intervened, attempting to calm him down while physically restraining him.
Ng-Reyes, who was seated near an air marshal, told NBC New York that the unruly passenger directed racial slurs at the man next to him and also targeted Black flight attendants with abusive language. She expressed concern that the man might attempt to reach the cockpit, describing the situation as “pretty scary.”
Response and Arrest
The flight, which originated in Dallas, was diverted to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Upon landing, the passenger was removed from the aircraft and arrested by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police. His identity has not been released.
The FBI’s Baltimore field office confirmed the arrest and stated that agents are conducting interviews to gather facts. The agency will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges will be filed. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment on the case.
Passenger Experience and Airline Statement
The diversion extended the travel time significantly. Ng-Reyes noted that the flight was scheduled to land in Newark three and a half hours after takeoff, but the disruption and rerouting stretched the journey to roughly eight hours.
American Airlines issued a statement emphasizing that the safety and security of customers and team members is its top priority and that violence is not tolerated. The airline thanked its crew for their professionalism and passengers for their understanding during the incident.