An American Airlines passenger was arrested Thursday night after a racist and homophobic tirade forced a Dallas-to-Newark flight to divert to Baltimore.
The man, whose name has not been released, was on American Airlines flight 618 when he began screaming at his seatmate around 10:15 p.m., according to a report. The outburst quickly escalated into physical violence as he smacked the passenger beside him and smashed his computer.
When a black flight attendant stepped in to intervene, the man hurled the n-word at him and spewed anti-gay slurs, according to the report. A female passenger attempted to assist the man seated next to the unruly traveler, but the aggressor pushed her back.
Three male passengers then jumped in to help contain the situation, using duct tape and zip ties to restrain the man. Footage shows him bound to his seat with his hands, head and torso immobilized in a mummy-like wrap.
American Airlines said in a statement that the flight was diverted to Baltimore “due to a disruptive customer.” The airline added that when the plane landed, “law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident is under investigation. The agency noted there have been more than “1,160 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.”
An FBI spokesperson said Maryland Transportation Police arrested the man and booked him on state charges. The bureau is now working with the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges will follow.
“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 in a statement.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland declined to comment. Maryland Transportation Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident adds to a growing tally of disruptive behavior aboard US flights this year, with federal data showing the pace of such episodes remains elevated well above pre-pandemic levels.