A 67-year-old Arizona man was arrested after being restrained with duct tape and zip ties during an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Newark, forcing a diversion to Baltimore on September 3, 2026. The incident involved allegations of racist and homophobic slurs, physical aggression, and passenger intervention to contain the disruption.
The incident unfolded on American Airlines flight AA 618, which departed Dallas and was en route to Newark when a passenger allegedly became disruptive, prompting the plane to divert to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) around 10:15 p.m. Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Arizona, was restrained to his seat with duct tape and zip ties by passengers and crew before being taken into custody by Maryland Transportation Authority Police, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Incident and Immediate Response
Passengers Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer, and Richard Olenick described the disruption as escalating from verbal abuse to physical aggression. Mejia recounted that a man sitting two rows behind them began using racial slurs, vulgar language, very offensive to the women and became belligerent toward airline staff and other passengers. Olenick added that the man allegedly struck a passenger and pushed a woman before being restrained.
Unruly passenger arrested after being restrained with duct tape
Mejia and Olenick intervened, using zip ties provided by a flight attendant to restrain Lundeen’s wrists. When the man resisted, they applied duct tape to limit his movement, ensuring he could still breathe. We weren't looking to hurt this individual; we were looking more to restrain him and control him,
Mejia said. The two passengers remained with Lundeen until law enforcement boarded the plane and took him into custody after landing in Baltimore.
Passenger Accounts and Safety Concerns
Olenick, a passenger on the flight, emphasized the heightened tension as the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approached. Juan being a cop, he lost people. I was probably three miles from it when it happened, so it’s a very sensitive time,
he said. The incident also drew reactions from other travelers at BWI, with one passenger calling it crazy and another noting that while most flights are calm, flights where people are quite unruly… have had to restrain people with zip ties and tape.
A video obtained by TMZ showed Lundeen restrained to a first-class seat, with duct tape wrapping his body and visible cuts on his arms. Maryland police confirmed he was arrested on state charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The FBI is also investigating, with officials considering potential federal charges.
American Airlines stated that the safety of customers and crew is its top priority and condemned the incident. We do not tolerate violence, the airline said in a statement. The FAA, which is probing the case, reported over 1,160 unruly passenger incidents this year, with fines of more than $43,000 possible for violations involving crew members.
Passenger duct-taped to first-class seat as American Airlines flight
The Restraint Methods and Regulatory Context
The restraint methods used—zip ties and duct tape—have been previously documented in aviation safety protocols. A 2024 incident involving a passenger who tried to force open a plane door and injure a flight attendant also saw similar measures. Lundeen was released on bail on his own recognizance, with a trial scheduled for October 19 in Glen Burnie.
Other passengers at BWI expressed shock at the images. That's crazy. I've never seen something like that. I would be scared if that person was on my flight,
said BWI passenger Kaunain Hashmi. Another passenger, Jeff Vogel, noted that while most flights are calm, I've heard of flights where people are quite unruly and they have had to restrain people with zip ties and tape and all sorts of things.
Jim Lucken said he was glad other passengers and crew members were able to restrain the man. It sounds like the passengers got together and helped stewardesses restrain him, Lucken said. The individual, can’t do any damage to anyone.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in managing in-flight disruptions, with the FAA and airlines emphasizing the need for passenger cooperation. Lundeen’s legal proceedings will determine whether he faces federal charges, while the incident underscores the role of bystander intervention in crisis situations.
Additional Details from Source Material
American Airlines passenger duct-taped to seat, plane diverted to
According to the FBI’s Baltimore field office, which is investigating the incident, Lundeen was cleared by paramedics for an open wound on his arm that was noticed by officers while being taken into custody. The FAA confirmed the flight was diverted to BWI after Lundeen allegedly became disruptive. The airline stated that upon arrival, law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination.
The incident occurred as the FAA reported 1,160 unruly passenger incidents this year, with penalties including fines of up to $43,000 for violations involving crew members. Lundeen’s case is being reviewed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine if federal charges are warranted, according to the FBI.
Mejia, a retired New Jersey police officer, described the man’s behavior as escalating from verbal abuse to physical aggression. He was starting to become abusive and started using profanity, Olenick said. Both Olenick and Mejia said the man also used racial and homophobic slurs. The flight crew reported the disturbance, with the FAA confirming the diversion to Baltimore. Lundeen was removed from the plane, and the flight continued to Newark, American Airlines said in a statement.
The sequence of events included Lundeen allegedly hitting a passenger and pushing a woman before being restrained. Olenick and Mejia, along with a third person, used zip ties to restrain Lundeen’s wrists. The passenger continued resisting and reportedly told them to get off me. The three men then used duct tape provided by a flight attendant to further restrain him. Mejia advised the men not to cover the passenger’s mouth, and Olenick said they made sure the man could continue 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. For about 15 minutes, Olenick sat on the restrained passenger’s lap until the plane landed in Maryland.
Mejia and Olenick remained with Lundeen until law enforcement boarded the plane and took him into custody after landing in Baltimore. The FBI is investigating the incident, with officials consulting the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine if Lundeen could face federal charges. The FAA is also investigating. American Airlines emphasized its commitment to safety, stating that it does not tolerate violence and that the safety of customers and team members is its top priority.
