Man Duct-Taped After Passengers Say He Tried to Open Door Mid-Flight

Dramatic footage shows a man being restrained using duct tape on an American Airlines flight after passengers said he attempted to open an emergency exit mid-air on February 20.

American Airlines flight 1219, which was bound for Chicago, returned to Albuquerque shortly after takeoff “due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer,” American Airlines said in a statement to Storyful. They did not provide further information about the incident.

Emma Ritz captured footage showing several passengers restraining a man after Ritz said she saw him attempting to open the emergency exit door after takeoff. Other passengers reported the man broke off part of the exit door.

Several passengers intervened, restraining the man and binding his legs and arms with duct tape before they moved him to the back of the plane. The video ends with the man being escorted from the plane by authorities.

American Airlines said the flight “landed safely and the aircraft was met by local law enforcement upon arrival.” Both the FAA and FBI are investigating the incident, KOAT-TV reported. Credit: Emma Ritz via Storyful

Video transcript

- Somebody get some help!

- [INAUDIBLE]!

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- [CRIES]

- Shh, shh, shh.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

[ENGINES RUMBLING]

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- I can't get through there.

- I got him. I got him.

- Yeah, he looks like a serial killer, shocker.

- Well, that is--

- He can see everybody looking.

- He's loving that we're [INAUDIBLE].

- Someone like that, I would just [INAUDIBLE].

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- Somebody get some help!

- [INAUDIBLE]!

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- I can't get through there.

- I got him. I got him.

- Yeah, he looks like a serial killer, shocker.

- Well, that is--

- He can see everybody looking.

- He's loving that we're [INAUDIBLE].

- Someone like that, I would just [INAUDIBLE].

[INTERPOSING VOICES]