In the latest of a series of high-profile disruptive passenger incidents on American Airlines this week, flight attendants duct-taped a first class passenger to her seat after she physically attacked them and tried to open the plane’s door.
Flight attendants duct-taped a passenger to her seat on an American Airlines flight last week. Photo: Vincenzo Pace/Simple FlyingA series of high-profile disruptive passenger incidents onboard American Airlines
Multiple media reports are circulating concerning American Airlines Flight AA1774 from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Charlotte (CLT) on Tuesday, July 6. The female passenger reportedly had an inflight mental breakdown. She assaulted and bit a flight attendant and attempted to open the forward boarding door.
On a different flight on Tuesday, AA2289, operating between Los Angeles (LAX) and Miami (MIA), the flight crew ordered passengers to put their hands on their heads for nearly an hour before the plane landed. Upon landing, police armed with machine guns boarded the aircraft to arrest a passenger.
On Monday, July 5, a group of teenage high school students traveling on American Airlines Flight 893 from Charlotte to Nassau (NAS) were non-compliant with federal mask requirements. American Airlines says they became disruptive to other customers and refused to follow crew member’s instructions while onboard. As a result, American Airlines removed the students from the plane. However, the flight was delayed overnight in Charlotte as a result.

The arrest happened when 2289 landed in Miami (flight landed at 4:42 ET). Passengers were ordered to put their hands on their heads for 45-60 minutes before landing. Strangely, passengers were repeatedly told not to film on the plane. pic.twitter.com/rxInzwRi4a
— Chris Nguyen (@imaNguyener) July 8, 2021

Female first class passenger has an inflight mental breakdown
Airlines and the FAA are cracking down on disruptive passenger incidents. Reports of bad behavior are at record highs. The FAA is regularly recommending substantial financial penalties. Airlines are pushing for criminal penalties.
In Tuesday’s AA1774 incident, detailed by a passenger on TikTok, the female first class passenger began behaving badly one hour into the two-hour flight to Charlotte.
The TikTok clip, posted by @lol.ariee, is now taken down. But Business Insider reports @lol.ariee saying.
“She was saying, ‘I need to get off this plane,’ and she went up to the exits and started banging on the doors, saying, ‘You need to let me off this plane!’”
In a statement, American Airlines refers to the incident as a “potential security concern.
“The crew onboard American Airlines flight 1774 reported a potential security concern after a customer attempted to open the forward boarding door and physically assaulted, bit, and caused injury to a flight attendant.
“For the safety and security of other customers and our crew, the individual was restrained until the flight landed at CLT and could be met by law enforcement and emergency personnel.”

@AmericanAir , I was on flight 1774 last night. A deranged passenger screamed for over an hour, was physically out of control, had to be restrained/duct taped to her seat. She was a nightmare. AA flight attendants were excellent. Authorities were waiting. Hope she’s in jail.
— Kelly Manion (@IzIzBaby) July 7, 2021

American Airlines flight crew gets high praise for their professional handling of incident
According to @lol.ariee, flight attendants duct-taped the passenger to her seat after biting, spitting, and attacking flight attendants. Photos taken by passengers leaving the plane in Charlotte show a disheveled blonde woman secured to the seat. Flight attendants bound the passenger’s behind her back and taped her mouth. The passenger reportedly remained highly agitated while the remainder of the passengers left the plane. Police and medical personnel later removed her.
Another passenger on the flight, Kelly Manion from Charlotte, praised the professionalism of the flight attendants on AA1774. Ms Manion posted on Twitter;
“A deranged passenger screamed for over an hour, was physically out of control, had to be restrained/duct-taped to her seat. She was a nightmare.”
Meanwhile, American Airlines is on the front foot supporting its flight crew. The airline is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passengers. American Airlines and other United States-based carriers have reported more than 2,500 passengers to the FAA in 2021 for disruptive behavior. Following Tuesday’s incident, the American Airlines spokesperson said;
“We applaud our crew for their professionalism and quick effort to protect those onboard.”

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