A disruptive passenger was restrained with flexible handcuffs and duct-taped to a seat as his flight was diverted to make an emergency landing in Baltimore Thursday night, photos and video from other passengers showed.

Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia were more than halfway through the flight when a man two rows behind them in the first-class section started to become belligerent, Olenick said.

American Airlines Flight 618 was traveling from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark when the crew reported the passenger disturbance, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

A flight attendant tried to control the situation but the man got increasingly agitated, started to hit the passenger next to him and then hit a woman who tried to intervene, Olenick said.

Upon seeing things turn physical, Mejia, who is a retired New Jersey police officer, got up and Olenick followed.

“He was starting to become abusive and started using profanity,” Olenick said. The man also used “racial and homophobic slurs,” according to both Olenick and Mejia.

A flight attendant gave Olenick, Mejia and a third person a ziptie, which they used to restrain the man’s wrists as he told them to “Get off me.”

The man then bit Mejia and attempted to bite Olenick, which prompted the three men to start using duct tape from a flight attendant to restrain him, both men said. Following Mejia’s advice, Olenick said they made sure not to put tape over the man’s mouth so he wouldn’t have issues breathing.

“Physically it lessened his ability to move for sure, but it did not solve the issue. He was still pushing and resisting and trying to get up,” Olenick said.

“The safety ​and ​security ​of our customers ​and team members ​is our top ​priority and ​we ​do not ​tolerate violence,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We thank our ​team members for ​their ​professionalism ​and ​our customers ​for ​their ​understanding.”

For the next 15 minutes, Olenick sat on the restrained passenger’s lap until the plane made its emergency landing in Maryland. Olenick attempted to sit back in his seat at one point, but he had to quickly return “because the man started acting up again,” Olenick said.

The 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks next week was already on both of their minds, Olenick said, making the situation even more concerning.

“Juan being a being a cop, he lost people. I was probably three miles from it when it happened, so it’s a very sensitive time and then this guy starts, you know, pulling this stuff,” Olenick said.

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police met the plane after it safely landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and arrested one man on state charges, an FBI statement said. Officials did not name the man.

After the passenger was removed, the flight continued on its way to Newark, Olenick said.

“We don’t know exactly what happened, what triggered it,” Olenick added. “But whatever it was, it was pretty intense.”

Duct tape and flexible handcuffs are found on many commercial planes for use in restraining violent or disruptive passengers.

In 2024, a passenger who tried to force open a door and injured a flight attendant while flying from Milwaukee to Dallas was duct-taped to his seat.

There have been more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents reported so far this year, according to the FAA.

Besides criminal penalties, the agency can pursue fines of more than $43,000 against any passenger who “assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members.”

One person is in hospital with serious injuries following an early morning apartment fire in Regina Thursday morning.

Emergency crews were called to an apartment fire at 2200 Smith Street at around 6:40 a.m.

They arrived to find a fire in a main floor suite.

Regina Fire and Protective Services (RFPS) rescued one person from the blaze. They were treated by paramedics, before being taken to hospital in serious condition.

There were no other injuries to report. The fire has been extinguished and is under investigation.

A 37-year-old woman has died from the injuries she received from an assault last month.

Regina police say Rebecca Autumn (Wilson) Mathieson passed away on Aug. 30.

On Aug. 14, She was found in the west alley of the 1400 block of Wascana Street after police were called to the area in response to a report of an injured person.

Mathieson was suffering from “significant” injuries when officers found her around 4 a.m., and was taken to hospital by EMS, according to a Thursday news release.

As a result, the aggravated assault investigation has now become a homicide investigation.

Regina Police Service’s Major Crimes Unit is working with the Saskatchewan Coroners Service to determine the circumstances that led to her death.

Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Police say it’s the city’s fifth homicide of 2026.

A day after an RCMP officer’s gun and other equipment were stolen from a hotel in Prince Albert, police say many of the stolen items have been recovered.

In a news release sent Thursday afternoon, Prince Albert police said they have also arrested a second suspect in connection with the investigation.

“A search of the hotel area by both Prince Albert Police Service and RCMP members have led to the recovery of many of the stolen items. Police are working to identify additional suspects and recover any remaining police equipment,” police said.

Police say they are continuing to search for any remaining equipment and are working to identify additional suspects.

According to police, a 30-year-old man was arrested at a home on the 900 block of 2nd Street East on Wednesday. The man surrendered to police and was taken into custody without incident.

He is charged with break and enter with intent and breach of a release order. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 4.

Earlier the same day, Saskatchewan RCMP arrested a 42-year-old man in connection with the same incident. He is charged with break and enter with intent and made his first court appearance Sept. 3.

The investigation began after an RCMP officer returned to a hotel room in the 300 block of 38th Street West shortly after midnight on Sept. 2 and discovered police equipment had been stolen.

Police previously said three men and one woman broke into the hotel while the room was unoccupied.

The stolen items included an RCMP service pistol, several pistol magazines, a baton, pepper spray, a grey RCMP shirt and other personal items. A conducted energy device, police duty jacket, vest, body-worn camera and radio were also taken.

A semi-truck driver is facing five charges after an oversized load hit a train bridge on Highway 16 near Borden on Wednesday.

The semi was hauling hopper-bottom bins when it struck the train bridge near the Borden Bridge, about 50 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

RCMP said the incident was reported shortly before noon.

CTV News reached out to Canadian National Railway for comment on the damage and any potential impact to rail operations. The company said to direct all questions to the RCMP.

The Saskatchewan Highway Patrol said the driver has been charged with damage to a public improvement, failing to comply with permit conditions, exceeding the height authorized by permit, driving without due care and attention, and failing to carry a bill of lading.

The incident is the latest in a series of eight overpass strikes this year. Five of those incidents happened in March alone.

On March 5, a semi hauling an excavator struck the overpass at the Circle Drive, Highway 11 and Highway 16 cloverleaf. The City of Saskatoon estimated repairs would cost $400,000.

Less than a week later, the 108th Street overpass over Circle Drive was hit. Initial estimates put repair costs at about $350,000.

On March 16, a semi-truck carrying an excavator and heading south on Highway 39 hit an overpass on Highway 1 east of Moose Jaw.

On March 22, the McKercher Drive overpass was hit. The CPKC rail bridge near the Attridge Drive overpass was also hit that day. The driver left the scene but was later located in Martensville by RCMP.

In June, a semi became stuck under Regina’s Broad Street train bridge.

A month later, a semi struck Saskatoon’s 51st Street overpass on Idylwyld Drive.

In a statement, the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol said overpass strikes are “unfortunate and completely avoidable by following height, width and weight restrictions on all city and provincial roadways.”

“Operators are asked to follow all height, weight and transport regulations and restrictions and inspect their loads before driving to protect roadway infrastructure and ensure the safety and security of motorists and communities,” the statement added.

Susan Ewart, executive director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, said the repeated incidents highlight a broader issue.

“I think it really speaks to the larger problem of non-compliance in the industry,” Ewart said.

However, she noted that after the first two overpass strikes earlier this year, the association saw an increase in training for securing cargo.

She said the association has met with the province and municipalities to discuss the issue and find a solution.

“Whether it’s something that we can support with more education and support,” Ewart said. “Continuing to have those conversations to even make the process a little bit more seamless for when we’re getting permits so that we’re maybe coordinating with one department instead of five different ones.”

Ewart noted that most drivers prioritize safety and are experienced in moving large rigs.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are going out with style, as the aerial demonstration team will perform its final show with its iconic Tutor jet fleet at the 113th Grey Cup.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) made the announcement on Thursday, noting the aerial performers will close out 55 years of entertaining Canadians from coast to coast to coast in front of a Grey Cup crowd.

“As we celebrate this tremendous milestone and bid farewell to the CT-114 Tutor, we honour the generations of pilots, technicians support staff and families whose dedication have made the Snowbirds a symbol of Canadian excellence,” the league said in its announcement.

The Snowbirds have previously performed at the 101st, 106th and 109th Grey Cup championships.

“We proudly welcome the final flight of the iconic Canadian Forces Snowbirds to Canada’s biggest championship celebration,” CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnson said.

“We are honoured to help mark this historic moment and pay tribute to a partnership built on shared values, shared history and an enduring pride in Canada.”

This year’s Grey Cup will be played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, Nov. 15, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. CST.

In May, the federal government announced the Snowbirds will be temporarily grounded after the 2026 season, until the team’s aging CT-114 Tutor jets are replaced with the new CT-157 Siskin II sometime in the 2030s.

The Snowbirds performed their final hometown show in Moose Jaw on July 11, 2026, with tickets selling out in minutes.

Toronto’s Rogers Stadium sustained “significant damage” during Wednesday’s powerful thunderstorms, with CP24 / CTV News Toronto helicopter video showing rows of bleacher seats tangled and destroyed with debris scattered across the venue.

In an email to CTV News Thursday, the venue noted that no employees or on-site contractors were injured during the storm but that staff are “assessing the extent of the damage.”

The wreckage comes less than two weeks before AC/DC is scheduled to perform there.

“As a result of yesterday’s extreme weather, Rogers Stadium sustained significant damage,” officials wrote. “We are currently assessing the extent of the damage and will provide further information as it becomes available.”

Extensive damage visible from the air

The helicopter hovered over the stadium shortly before 9 a.m. where video appears to show dozens of bleachers completely tangled and destroyed, with sections of seating damaged from top to bottom.

Several nearby tents and temporary structures also appeared to have been destroyed, while large amounts of debris seen scattered throughout the area.

Rogers Stadium did not yet provide details about the specific damaged structures or an estimated cost of repairs.

How bad was the storm?

Powerful thunderstorms on Wednesday night brought heavy rain, golf ball-sized hail and destructive wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h.

The storms caused widespread flooding, knocked down trees and power lines and at one point, left 65,000 residents without electricity.

Several major roads were also flooded, including the DVP and Gardiner Expressway, with some drivers requiring rescue from submerged vehicles.

The severe weather also prompted emergency alerts warning residents to seek shelter indoors, while Environment Canada issued weather advisories across southern Ontario, including tornado warnings.

With AC/DC set to perform on Sept. 16, it remains unclear whether the concert will be affected.

The venue holds a maximum capacity of 50,000 people.

A radar-indicated tornado touched down in the community of Wheatley, Ont., Environment Canada confirms.

The weather agency reported just before 5 p.m. Thursday that the Wheatley Provincial Park radar indicated a tornado.

A “red” tornado warning issued earlier in the day for the Ontario regions of Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent has since ended.

However, as of 5:15 p.m., an “orange” severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex.

A “yellow” heat warning is also in effect for the mentioned areas.

EVO Radio Network – Scheduled Maintenance Notice

EVO Radio will be conducting a network-wide server migration and infrastructure update beginning Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 3:00 AM, with work expected to be completed by Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM.

During this maintenance window, the following services may be temporarily offline or intermittently inaccessible at various points:

Websites

• https://z1035.evoradio.ca/

• https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/

• https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/

• https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

• https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/

• https://vipclub.evoradio.ca/

• https://evomcorp.com/

• https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Live Broadcasting

• Z103.5

• 979 The Cowboy

• 101 The Rockhound

• Classic 88.7 The Goat

Stream Relay Network

• All Stream Relay services will be unavailable during the migration.

Because this update involves server transfers, database installations, and name server changes, exact downtime periods cannot be guaranteed. Individual service interruptions may vary, with some components taking up to several hours to complete.

Our support and technical teams will work to keep all stations and websites online for as long as possible and will restore services immediately as each system becomes available. Broadcast services and station websites will be prioritized, followed by additional network services.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete these upgrades, which are designed to improve performance, reliability, and long-term stability across the EVO Radio Network.

Thank you for your continued support,
EVO Radio Network

🎉 Update Completed Successfully! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that our scheduled network update has been completed without any issues! 🚀 All our broadcast stations, streams, and websites are now fully operational and running better than ever.

What’s New?

Here’s what you can expect from this update:
✅ Improved Audio Player – No more interruptions or cutting off! Enjoy seamless streaming on our websites.
✅ Enhanced Stream Stability – Our radio streams are now more reliable than ever.
✅ Upgraded Security & Quality – Improved protection and enhanced broadcast quality for an unmatched listening experience.

Fully Operational Services:

🎵 Stations:

• Z103.5 – https://z1035.evoradio.ca/
• 979 The Cowboy – https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/
• 101 The Rockhound – https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat – https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

🌐 Websites:

• EVO Radio Advertiser Access – https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/
• EVO Media Corporation – https://evomcorp.com/
• DJ Spinderella – https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Experiencing Issues?

While everything is running smoothly on our end, we’re here to help if you encounter any issues. If you’re having trouble with our broadcasts or websites, please report the issue to us immediately so we can address it.

📧 Contact Us:

If you have having any issues please reach out to us on our websites!

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this process. We’re committed to providing you with the best listening experience possible and appreciate your support!

🎧 Happy Listening!
The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team