US man duct-taped to seat after attacking passenger mid-flight, racial abuse
World News, Today World News, Latest International News, World Breaking News, Trending News of World - Times of India
· collected 2026-09-05 · by Pranjal Pandey
A man allegedly attacked another passenger on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark, causing a diversion in Baltimore, where he was removed by law enforcement. No specific details are provided about the attacker's identity or motive. The incident occurred two hours into the flight, with multiple passengers intervening to restrain him using zip ties and duct tape. Witnesses alleged that the passenger made racial slurs and homophobic remarks against a flight attendant before becoming violent.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.15, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 4414: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-05
⚖️ Centre
🔴 31% hedged
5 of 16📰 publisher trust 95
“Both articles describe an incident where a passenger on American Airlines flight was duct-taped to their seat after allegedly attacking another passenger and using racial slurs, which occurred on the same day and flight.”
⚖️ leaning not scored
🔴 6% hedged
1 of 16📰 publisher trust 59
“Both articles report on the exact same incident: an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark that made an unexpected stop in Baltimore due to a passenger's outburst, with the same witnesses (Juan Mejia and Richard Olenick) describing the events”
An allegedly disruptive passenger was duct-taped to a passenger seat on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark that made an unexpected stop in Baltimore late Thursday.
uncertain
that → tap → Baltimore
A photo shared by one of the passengers showed the man had multiple loops of tape around his wrists, torso and head.
asserted
man → share → wrists
About two hours into the flight, witnesses told CBS News how the situation suddenly escalated, with the passenger allegedly yelling and attacking the man seated next to him by grabbing his neck.
uncertain
passenger → tell → neck
Two passengers, including retired law enforcement officer Juan Mejia, intervened to restrain him.
asserted
passengers → include → him
With the help of a flight attendant, they used zip ties and duct tape to secure the passenger to his seat.
asserted
they → use → seat
Witnesses also alleged that the passenger hurled a racial slur and homophobic remarks at a flight attendant when she attempted to calm the situation.
asserted
she → allege → situation
He later became violent, prompting the crew to restrain him and divert the flight to Baltimore.
asserted
He → become → Baltimore
In Baltimore, he was reportedly removed by law enforcement, after which the flight continued to Newark.
uncertain
