American Airlines Crew and Passengers Forced to Duct Tape Screaming Man on Flight to Miami
By Nicholas McEntyre
Published Dec. 31, 2023, 6:58 a.m. ET
A dramatic scene unfolded aboard American Airlines Flight 948 as crew and passengers were forced to restrain a screaming man, using duct tape to subdue him before the flight bound for Miami International Airport.
The unidentified man had a meltdown while preparing to board the flight at Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport, shouting “help” and “they’re killing me” in Spanish, according to reports from ABC Local 10. The intense scene continued as the man was restrained by five individuals – four passengers and one airline employee – using duct tape on his arms and head, while also fending off his punches inside one of the plane’s galleys as captured in WPLG exclusive video footage.
Despite the terrifying ordeal, the flight still managed to land in Miami 13 minutes ahead of schedule, according to FlightAware. No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
This disturbing incident comes on the heels of another disruptive episode on a Qantas flight between Bali and Melbourne, where a 28-year-old man had to be restrained after assaulting a crew member. Five passengers had to intervene to bring down the belligerent traveler, who was then handed over to police for questioning but did not face any charges, reported 9News.
The motives behind these incidents remain unknown but highlight the challenges that airlines and their passengers can face when disruptive behavior occurs during flights.