An American Airlines flight from Dallas to Newark was diverted to Baltimore on Thursday evening after a passenger launched into a racist and homophobic tirade, then turned violent, according to the airline and the celebrity news outlet TMZ.
The disruption took place aboard American Airlines Flight 618. The man began behaving aggressively in his seat, hurling racist and homophobic insults at the passenger sitting next to him, TMZ reported.
When a Black flight attendant stepped in to try to stop him, the man reportedly kept up his tirade, using a racist slur and offensive language aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, according to the report.
Passenger restrained with tape and zip ties
The situation escalated further as the man became physically aggressive. TMZ reported that he hit the passenger sitting beside him and broke that passenger's laptop.
A woman passenger who tried to help the man he had attacked was shoved away by the attacker, according to the report.
Three other male passengers then stepped in and managed to restrain him, using tape and zip ties. Video filmed inside the cabin shows the man bound to his seat, with his hands, head and torso immobilized.
Diverted to Baltimore
American Airlines confirmed that the flight was diverted to Baltimore "due to a disruptive passenger." The airline said that after landing, law enforcement met the aircraft and helped remove the passenger before the flight continued on to its final destination.
American Airlines is one of the largest carriers in the United States, operating thousands of flights daily across its domestic and international network. Unruly passenger incidents have become a recurring problem for US airlines in recent years, occasionally forcing crews to divert flights for the safety of those on board.
FAA and FBI involvement
The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the incident. The agency noted that more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents have been recorded in the United States in 2026.
An FBI spokesperson said the man was arrested by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and is facing state charges.
The FBI said it continues to gather evidence in coordination with the US Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges will also be filed.
The FBI said it was currently conducting interviews to gather evidence and would work with the US Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges would be pursued.
