American Airlines passengers tackle, restrain man who tried to open emergency exit mid-flight
An American Airlines A319 takes off as a A321 taxis at DFW Airport on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. - Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

Passengers onboard an American Airlines flight reported feeling rushing wind when a fellow traveler attempted to rip open the emergency exit in mid-air on Tuesday.

Six of them sprang into action, tackling the man and holding him down in the aisle until the plane safely returned to Sunport Airport in Albuquerque.

Flight 1219 had been on its way to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport when the incident occurred roughly half an hour after takeoff.