Arthur Lundeen was restrained with duct tape and zip ties on American Airlines flight AA 618 after a disturbance aboard the Dallas-to-Newark flight forced a diversion to Baltimore on Thursday night. Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested Lundeen after the plane landed, and the flight later continued to Newark.
Juan Mejia, a passenger and former law enforcement officer, said he began hearing the disturbance about three quarters of the way into the flight. He said the man sitting two rows behind him became belligerent and directed derogatory remarks, racial slurs, vulgar language and offensive remarks at staff and passengers.
Juan Mejia on AA 618
Mejia said, "[The] gentleman sitting two rows behind us started becoming belligerent, making derogatory remarks to the staff of American Airlines and other passengers, racial slurs, vulgar language, very offensive to the women". Richard Olenick said Mejia moved quickly after the situation escalated, describing it this way: "Juan immediately knew that action had to be taken. He got up right away and jumped in the seat right next to the passenger and began working on restraining him in order to keep the situation contained,".
Mejia later said, "We weren't looking to hurt this individual; we were looking more to restrain him and control him, so it didn't escalate to go any further,". He and Olenick intervened after they said Lundeen became physical, and the restraint kept the disturbance from spreading farther through the cabin.
Baltimore Washington International Airport
The plane was diverted to Baltimore Washington International Airport around 10:15 p.m. after the disturbance. Lundeen, 67, of Arizona, was restrained to his seat with duct tape and had his hands restrained with zip ties. Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested him after landing, and officers noticed an open wound on his arm before paramedics cleared him.
American Airlines said, "The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we do not tolerate violence,". The FBI said its investigation is ongoing, and the Federal Aviation Administration is also probing the incident, while AA 618 was able to continue to Newark after Lundeen was removed from the plane.
