American Airlines Passenger Duct Taped for Allegedly Breaking Flight Attendant’s Nose

An American Airlines flight to California was diverted to Denver following an alleged attack on a flight attendant Wednesday. 

Witnesses initially claimed the attack, which is said to have resulted in a broken nose for a flight attendant,  began over a mask dispute, but American Airlines says that the incident and resulting Flight 976 diversion from New York City to Santa Ana was not related to a mask issue, per CBS News.

“American Airlines flight 976 with service from New York (JFK) to Santa Ana (SNA) diverted to Denver (DEN) due to a passenger who physically assaulted a flight attendant,” airline spokesperson Laura Masvidal wrote in a statement to Complex. “The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate where law enforcement removed and apprehended the passenger.”