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American Airlines' flight from Milwaukee to Dallas-Fort Worth was disrupted when a passenger attempted to open the aircraft door, but was restrained by other passengers and the flight crew. The incident occurred on Tuesday when the passenger approached a flight attendant saying, 'I need to get off this plane immediately,' and tried to open the door. As the passenger became increasingly aggressive and harmed the flight attendant, other passengers intervened at the flight attendant's call. One passenger said they tackled the passenger from behind and bound their hands, knees, and feet with tape and plastic handcuffs brought by the crew. The passenger was kept under control for about 30 minutes in this manner. The plane landed safely at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, where the FBI and airport security teams boarded the aircraft and detained the passenger. The individual was then subjected to a mental health evaluation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the incident. According to FAA data, 'disruptive passenger behavior,' a significant issue even before the pandemic, has been on the rise in recent years. There were over 6,000 reported incidents in 2021, with over 2,000 occurring in 2023. American Airlines expressed gratitude to their team and passengers for their sensitivity in dealing with this challenging situation, stating, 'The safety and security of our customers and crew members are our top priority.' Recent incidents involving passengers on flights have raised concerns. Last month, a passenger on a United Airlines flight was accused of assaulting another passenger for no apparent reason. In September, a Frontier Airlines passenger attempted to strangle a flight attendant and threatened to 'kill everyone.' The FAA maintains a zero-tolerance policy against such behavior that threatens aircraft security. In 2023, over 400 actions were taken against disruptive passengers, resulting in a total of $7.5 million in fines.
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