• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • News

Police forcibly remove man from plane in Miami

2:19
Twitter / @PoleVaultDream
Unruly passenger removed from American Airlines flight
ByCourtney Han and Erin Dooley
April 24, 2018, 12:00 AM

An unruly passenger was arrested after he was shot with a stun gun and forcibly removed from a flight in Miami on Sunday.

The Chicago-bound American Airlines plane sat at a gate at Miami International Airport Sunday for more than an hour due to the disturbance, according to a statement from the airline.

Video posted on Twitter taken by another passenger shows a man, identified by authorities as Jacob Garcia of Chicago, getting held down and shot several times by a Taser held by one of three Miami-Dade police officers. Garcia asks why he is getting removed from the plane, and an officer responds: "You just assaulted a lady."

Jacob Garcia, a passenger on an American Airlines flight bound for Chicago was removed following a disagreement with another passenger on Sunday, April 22, 2018.
Miami-Dade Department of Corrections via AP

The incident began when Garcia allegedly touched a female passenger "without her permission" and then refused the crew's request that he move to another seat, according to a police report.

He allegedly was asked by crew and police to deplane, but instead clung to his seat, the police report said. An officer deployed a Taser after warning Garcia he was about to engage.

"Once law enforcement was on the aircraft, the passenger then became combative with the officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department. The same passenger was subsequently arrested," according to the airline.

Related Articles

Southwest passengers on flight with deadly engine failure get money, travel vouchers

Related Articles

Pilot fights passenger on plane who was allegedly drunk

All other passengers remained on the plane.

The flight departed an hour later than scheduled and reached Chicago's O'Hare airport early Monday morning.

ABC News’ Ben Stein, Becky Perlow and Chad Murray contributed to this report.

Up Next in News—

French lawmakers adopt social media ban for kids under 15

July 21, 2026

Trial begins for mom accused of killing her 3 children

July 20, 2026

Officer speaks out after rescuing driver trapped in burning car

July 20, 2026

Taylor Farms recalls lettuce in 27 states amid cyclosporiasis outbreak: What to know

July 20, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts— 

© 2026 ABC News