Flight 618 was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport after the man allegedly grew aggressive, assaulted fellow travelers, and hurled racist and homophobic slurs in the first-class cabin.
Mid-Air Altercation Erupts in First Class
The disturbance began more halfway through the cross-country trip when a male passenger seated two rows behind travelers Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia started acting erratically, according to Olenick’s account. A flight attendant attempted to de-escalate the situation, but the man grew increasingly agitated, began striking the passenger seated beside him, and subsequently pushed a woman who stepped in to help, as reported by CNN en Español and corroborated by footage shared on social media platform X by outlets like Complex and SignalForge.
Realizing the situation had escalated to physical violence, Mejia—a retired New Jersey police officer—intervened, accompanied by Olenick. According to both men, the suspect began using profane language alongside racial and homophobic insults. As a flight attendant handed Olenick, Mejia, and a third individual a plastic zip tie to secure the man’s wrists, the suspect bit Mejia and attempted to bite Olenick.
Passengers Apply Duct Tape and Divert to Baltimore
To prevent further injury, the trio utilized duct tape provided by the crew to immobilize the man’s movements. Acting on Mejia’s advice, Olenick stated they deliberately avoided taping the passenger’s mouth to ensure he could continue to breathe properly. Despite the restraints, Olenick noted that the man continued pushing, resisting, and attempting to stand up for the remaining duration of the flight.
Olenick spent roughly 15 minutes sitting on the lap of the restrained passenger until the aircraft executed its emergency landing in Maryland. American Airlines issued a statement emphasizing that customer and employee safety remains their top priority, while thanking the crew for their professionalism and passengers for their understanding.
Law Enforcement Arrests Suspect on the Ground
Maryland Transportation Authority Police met the aircraft upon landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and took the unidentified man into custody on state charges, according to an FBI statement. Following the removal of the disruptive passenger, the flight resumed its journey to Newark, according to Olenick’s testimony.
The incident coincides with a sharp rise in unruly airline passenger behavior tracked by federal regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration reported more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents during 2026. Beyond state criminal charges, the agency holds the authority to issue civil penalties exceeding $43,000 against any individual who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members.
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