An American Airlines flight attendant was confronted by a particularly agitated passenger during a domestic flight on Tuesday, November 19. Fortunately, she was able to count on the support of other travelers.
American Airlines flight 1915 Milwaukee/Dallas-Fort Worth experienced severe turbulence on Tuesday, November 19. While the plane was at an altitude of 30,000 feet, a passenger approached a flight attendant saying he “needed to get out immediately.” The man became more and more agitated and, feeling the situation becoming tense, the young woman signaled to the passengers around her to call her colleagues located in the back of the plane, reports CNN.
While waiting for reinforcement, the flight attendant tried to block her body between the plane door and the agitated passenger, but the latter rushed towards her, injuring her wrist and neck. Other travelers then stood up to try to control the individual and, faced with his resistance, decided to keep him in his seat with adhesive tape. “He was determined to get off the plane and I was determined that he wouldn't get off the plane,” Doug McCright, one of the passengers who intervened, told CBS 58.
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The man was thus held at the wrists, knees and ankles for around thirty minutes. Upon arrival at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, he was taken to the hospital to have his mental health evaluated. He was then taken into custody and has since been the subject of an FBI investigation.
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A growing problem
“The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we thank our team members and customers for handling a difficult situation,” the American Airlines spokeswoman said in a statement. But, according to CNN, airlines are increasingly faced with disruptive passengers. A problem which has reportedly increased since the pandemic with a record in 2021: 6,000 in-flight incidents. This year, already 1,854 in-flight incidents have been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration, which only deals with problems related to American companies. To try to stem the phenomenon, the FAA applies a policy of “zero tolerance” and almost systematically sentences disruptors to fines, in addition to taking them to court.
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