American Airlines Passengers Restrain Man ‘Attempting to Open Emergency Door’

An American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner approaches Miami International Airport, on December 10, 2021. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

An American Airlines flight en route from New Mexico to Chicago was forced to return on Feb. 20 after a passenger allegedly attempted to open the emergency door mid-flight, according to multiple reports.

The incident took place on board flight 1219 shortly after it departed from Albuquerque International Sunport and headed towards Chicago O'Hare International Airport, an American Airlines spokesperson confirmed in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

The plane was forced to turn back “shortly after takeoff due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer,” the spokesperson said.

Despite the onboard incident, flight 1219 “landed safely” and “was met by local law enforcement upon arrival” at Albuquerque International Sunport, the spokesperson said.

It is not clear if anyone was injured during the incident and the spokesperson did not say whether the individual was detained or if any charges were announced.

However, the Albuquerque Police Department and FBI’s Albuquerque office are currently investigating the incident, according to New Mexico NBC affiliate KOB.

In a separate statement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the flight returned safely to Albuquerque International Sunport Airport in New Mexico at around 2:40 p.m. local time on Feb. 20 after crew members “reported a passenger disturbance.”

The plane was a Boeing 737, the FAA said, adding that the agency is currently investigating the incident.

One passenger on the flight—Barstool Sports foreign correspondent Zach Etkind—told Fox News that the incident took place roughly 30 minutes after the plane took off.

Suspect Restrained by Passengers

The man who allegedly attempted to open the emergency door was ultimately subdued by multiple passengers on the flight and restrained with duct tape, he said.

“So I jumped out of my seat, ran over, and we probably had about like four or five guys who were trying to rip off this guy who was clinging to and pulling at the [emergency door] handle,” he told the publication.

“At the moment there was just too much going on to be panicking, but it was very scary ... Once we got him off of the door, we moved him to the aisle, and we all held down his legs and arms,” he continued. “Eventually, an American Airlines flight attendant came over and duct taped his legs and used flex cuffs to restrain him.”

Mr. Etkind said the male passenger who allegedly attempted to open the plane door did not resist “too aggressively” after being taken away from the door and restrained.

Video footage of the alleged incident shared with Fox News by Mr. Etkind appeared to show multiple passengers and flight attendants restraining a male passenger wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

Mr. Etkind also shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) which showed a handcuffed man in a hooded sweatshirt being led off the plane by law enforcement officers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, WE GOT HIM,” he captioned the post.

The Epoch Times has contacted American Airlines for further comment.