Charlotte-bound passenger restrained with tape, cuffs after biting flight attendant, airline says

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte-bound airline passenger tried to open the forward cabin door on their flight and assaulted and bit a flight attendant before being restrained, a spokesman said.

American Airlines spokesman Andrew Trull said in an email to the Associated Press that the unidentified passenger on board American Flight 1774 from Dallas-Fort Worth to Charlotte was restrained using tape and flex cuffs to confine them to their seat until the flight reached Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

The flight, with 190 passengers and six crew members, landed in Charlotte last Wednesday without incident.

Trull said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and emergency personnel boarded the plane after other travelers exited and took the passenger to a local hospital for evaluation.

The customer has been placed on American’s internal refuse list pending further investigation, Trull said.

American Airlines sent Channel 9 the following statement:

While in flight from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Charlotte (CLT) on July 6, the crew on board 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.

Additional information provided by American Airlines:

• Per protocol, flight attendants attempted to deescalate the situation before employing physical restraints. After attempting to breach the forward cabin door, the customer was restrained using flex cuffs. In response to the customer’s ongoing aggressive behavior and assault of a flight attendant, the crew then used restraint tape included in the flight attendant service kit to confine the customer to their seat.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Police and Medics met the aircraft on arrival. Emergency personnel boarded the aircraft after other customers deplaned to provide treatment and transport the customer to a local hospital for evaluation.
• The customer has been placed on our internal refuse list pending further investigation.
• The flight, with 190 customers and six crew members, landed without incident at 3:21 a.m. on July 7.

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