Arizona realtor duct-taped to seat after N-word tirade on flight
Arizona real estate professional Layne Arthur Lundeen was arrested after passengers restrained him with duct tape following a mid-flight tirade of racial slurs that forced the Dallas-Newark flight to divert.
Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, has been identified as the passenger who caused American Airlines flight 618 to divert to Baltimore after his violent outburst Thursday evening, according to Patrick Reilly writing in New York Post. The flight had been en route from Dallas to Newark.
Police reports indicate Lundeen directed the N-word at a flight attendant and made anti-gay slurs during the incident. Lundeen reportedly held a vice president position at Long Realty in Tucson, though his LinkedIn profile has since been removed from the platform.
Former Law Enforcement Officer Intervened
Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer among the passengers, told ABC News that he and his friend Richard Olenick sprang into action when they heard Lundeen becoming hostile from two rows behind them near the conclusion of the flight.
The disturbance included derogatory remarks directed at American Airlines staff and other passengers, with Mejia noting the use of racial epithets and vulgar language that was particularly offensive to women seated behind Lundeen.
Olenick recounted that Mejia moved swiftly to the seat adjacent to the disruptive passenger and began physically restraining him to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Passengers Duct-Taped Unruly Traveller
Video footage captured during the flight shows Lundeen bound to his seat with duct tape securing his hands, head and torso in an extraordinary display of passenger self-defense. The dramatic restraint kept the aggressive individual immobilized for the remainder of the flight.
American Airlines confirmed to media that the aircraft was diverted to Baltimore due to a disruptive customer. Upon landing, law enforcement officers met the plane and removed Lundeen before the flight continued to its intended destination.
State and Potential Federal Charges
The FBI confirmed that Lundeen was taken into custody by Maryland Transportation Police. Court records show he has been charged at the state level with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Federal authorities indicated they are conducting interviews to establish facts surrounding the incident. The FBI stated it will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges should be filed against Lundeen.
With information from New York Post
