Passenger duct-taped to seat on American Airlines flight is fired

An American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark was diverted to Baltimore after a passenger allegedly became violent and disruptive, forcing fellow travelers to step in and restrain him with duct tape and zip ties. The 67-year-old man, identified as Arthur Layne Lundeen, has since been fired from his job at an Arizona real estate company following his arrest over the incident. Lundeen was a real estate agent and former vice president at Tucson-based Long Realty. The company confirmed Sunday that it had ended its relationship with him after learning about the allegations. 'Long Realty is aware of reports concerning criminal charges filed against a former affiliated real estate agent arising from an incident that allegedly occurred during a commercial flight,' the company wrote in a statement posted on Facebook. READ: American Airlines passenger restrained with duct tape midair; Flight diverted (September 5, 2026) The company said it immediately ended its affiliation with Lundeen after becoming aware of the incident. His LinkedIn profile had previously identified him as a vice president at Long Realty, but his profile has since been removed from the company's website. 'The conduct described in the reports is wholly inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others that Long Realty expects from those affiliated with the company,' the company stated. The trouble began Thursday night aboard American Airlines Flight 618 as the plane traveled from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark. Witnesses said Lundeen became increasingly aggressive as the flight approached its destination. Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer who was traveling with his friend Richard Olenick, told ABC News that Lundeen was seated two rows behind them when he allegedly began shouting racial slurs and using vulgar language. He also reportedly directed derogatory comments toward American Airlines employees and other passengers. According to Olenick, Mejia intervened when the situation began to escalate. A flight attendant reportedly tried to handle the situation, but Lundeen allegedly became more aggressive and struck the passenger seated next to him. A woman who stepped in to help was also allegedly struck. Mejia and Olenick then helped restrain Lundeen while the crew dealt with the situation. Photos from the flight showed Lundeen secured to his seat with duct tape wrapped around his head and upper body, while his wrists were bound with zip ties. READ: How AI from Google helped American Airlines cut climate impact (March 20, 2026) American Airlines said the flight was rerouted to Baltimore after a passenger was deemed disruptive. After the aircraft landed in Baltimore, Lundeen was removed from the plane and arrested. The other passengers were later able to continue their journey to Newark. The FBI said Maryland Transportation Police took Lundeen into custody following the incident. According to court records, he faces state charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The FBI said it is still investigating the incident and has been interviewing witnesses to determine what happened. 'The FBI is currently conducting interviews to gather the facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed,' the bureau stated. The case could now lead to additional federal charges depending on the outcome of the investigation.