An American Airlines flight from Dallas to Newark was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Baltimore after a passenger launched into a violent, slur-filled outburst, prompting fellow travelers to restrain him with zip ties and duct tape.
Arthur “Layne” Lundeen, 67, a Tucson, Arizona, real estate agent, was identified as the man who authorities say became disruptive Thursday night on Flight 618. Witnesses described him as appearing intoxicated as he shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, including using the N-word toward a Black flight attendant, grabbed a neighboring passenger by the neck, smashed a laptop, shoved a woman who tried to intervene, and bit a retired police officer who helped hold him down.
Passengers Richard Olenick, a New Jersey gun range owner, and Juan Mejia, a retired Weehawken police officer, along with at least one other traveler, stepped in after the situation turned physical in the first-class cabin. Crew members provided zip ties and duct tape. Mejia and Olenick used the materials to secure Lundeen to his seat, wrapping tape around his torso, arms, and head while leaving his mouth uncovered so he could breathe. The pair credited their self-defense training for helping them control him during the roughly 10 minutes of struggle as he screamed the plane was going down.
The aircraft diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and landed safely around 10:15 p.m. Maryland Transportation Authority Police took Lundeen into custody. He was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, waived his right to an attorney at an initial appearance, and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court later. The FBI is reviewing the matter for possible additional federal charges.
Long Realty, Lundeen’s employer in Tucson, confirmed he is no longer with the company following the incident.
American Airlines said the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence. The FAA is investigating and has reported more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.
Witnesses said the outburst victimized much of the first-class cabin with hostility and vulgar language before passengers and crew restored order. The flight later continued to Newark after Lundeen was removed.
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