american airlines The flight was forced to return to New Mexico on Tuesday after a passenger tried to open the emergency door mid-flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and American Airlines confirmed to Fox News Digital that Flight AA1219, bound for Chicago International Airport, was forced to return to Albuquerque International Sunport.
Don, a passenger on the plane and the world-famous host of Barstool Sports’ “Donnie Does,” said the disturbance occurred about 30 minutes after the Boeing 737 took off.
“There was too much going on to panic at this point, but it was very scary,” Dong told FOX News Digital.
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Barstool Sports personality “Donnie Does” was on an American Airlines flight Tuesday when he was tackled to the ground by a man who tried to force open the emergency door mid-flight, leading to a crash in New Mexico. He was forced to return to Albuquerque. (@DonnieDoesWorld/X)
The media personality said he was falling asleep when he was suddenly woken up by a passenger who lost control.
Dong said he “jumped out of his seat” and joined four other passengers who were restraining the passenger who was trying to open the emergency door.
“So I jumped out of my seat and ran over, and there were probably four or five guys trying to rip him off who was holding on to him.” [emergency door] Take the wheel,” he said.
Passengers detained a man who caused a disturbance on an American Airlines flight from New Mexico to Chicago on Tuesday. (@DonnieDoesWorld/X)
Dong said he felt “pretty sluggish” after eating Chinese food and a tequila soda during the layover.
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“Tequila soda doesn’t go well with Panda Express,” he says. “So I was pretty sluggish. I thought I was pretty sluggish at the time, but once I saw what was going on, I bounced back quickly.”
The unruly passenger was escorted off the American Airlines flight by police. (@DonnieDoesWorld/X)
Four or five passengers tried to subdue the man who was clinging to the emergency door.
“Once we got him out the door, we moved him to the aisle and we all held down his legs and arms,” Dong said.
Eventually, an American Airlines flight attendant came and duct-taped his legs and used flex cuffs to restrain him.
Don’s video showed a group of men restraining the passenger while flight attendant Duct taped the passenger’s legs.
Dong said they placed him in an available seat in the back of the plane.
Don told Fox News Digital that other passengers heard him say, “I have to get off this plane,” before the unruly passenger tried to open the emergency door.
“Once we got him out the door, he didn’t fight back very aggressively, and we flew back to Albuquerque.”
After the incident, the plane was diverted back to Albuquerque International Sunport, where the unruly passengers were immediately arrested by local police.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Division said in a statement to FOX News Digital that it is investigating the incident.
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“The Albuquerque Division of the FBI is aware of this incident and is currently investigating.”
Albuquerque police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
