American Airlines passenger attempts to open emergency door and sparks mid-flight chaos

A dramatic scene unfolded aboard an American Airlines flight as passengers banded together to subdue a fellow traveler who reportedly attempted to open an emergency door mid-air.

The incident occurred on Tuesday during a flight from Albuquerque to Chicago, sparking chaos among passengers and crew.

Video footage obtained by Fox News and shared on social media captured the tense moments as passengers intervened to restrain the disruptive individual. The video showed the passenger on the floor of the plane, with his feet duct-taped, following what the airline described as a disturbance in the air.

Subsequent footage shared on social media depicted police escorting the man off the plane after it made an emergency landing back in Albuquerque.

Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing experience on X (formerly Twitter).

One passenger, known as The Wonton Don (@DonnieDoesWorld), described being awakened by the commotion caused by the individual attempting to open the airplane door several rows back.

“Me and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle, duct tape his legs, and throw flexi-cuffs on him,” he wrote.

Another passenger, identified as Lay Z (@layzdubz), expressed the fear and shock experienced during the ordeal, describing it as “one of the scariest days” of her life. She recounted the suddenness of the event, stating: “This guy opened the emergency exit door. People were tackling him down and put him in zip ties. Had to emergency land back.”

American Airlines confirmed the incident, stating that Flight 1219, en route from Albuquerque to Chicago, returned to Albuquerque shortly after takeoff due to the disturbance involving a disruptive passenger.

The airline assured that the flight landed safely, and local law enforcement met the aircraft upon arrival.

As details about the situation and potential charges remained scarce, passengers’ swift action in restraining the individual garnered praise from online users.

Messages of appreciation flooded social media platforms, with many commending the passengers for their courage and quick response in ensuring the safety of everyone on board.

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