Overview
- On Thursday, Sept. 3, American Airlines Flight 618 from Dallas–Fort Worth to Newark was diverted to Baltimore after a passenger allegedly became violent and used racist and anti‑gay slurs.
- Passengers and crew say the man assaulted a seatmate, damaged a laptop, pushed a woman who intervened, and was restrained with duct tape and zip ties given by flight attendants.
- Images and video from the cabin show the passenger heavily bound to his seat, and witnesses reported bites and bleeding during the struggle.
- Maryland Transportation Police arrested and booked the man on state charges at BWI, and the FBI is interviewing witnesses and consulting the U.S. Attorney’s Office about possible federal charges.
- The episode highlights rising unruly passenger incidents in 2026 and raises questions about airline diversion protocols, crew training, and the use of improvised restraints on board.