PASSENGER DUCT-TAPED TO HIS SEAT AFTER CHAOTIC MID-FLIGHT OUTBURST — FLIGHT 618 FORCED TO DIVERT

Passengers thought they were simply flying from Dallas to Newark. Then, about two hours into the flight, everything changed.

A first-class passenger allegedly became so disruptive that fellow travelers and crew members had to physically restrain him — eventually using duct tape and zip ties to keep him secured to his seat for the remainder of the flight.

The incident happened aboard American Airlines Flight 618 on Sept. 3, 2026, as the aircraft was traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport.

Instead of reaching New Jersey as planned, the aircraft was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

And what happened inside the cabin has now become the subject of a police and federal investigation.

THE FLIGHT DESCENDED INTO CHAOS

According to PEOPLE, the passenger began shouting racial and homophobic slurs roughly two hours into the flight.

The situation allegedly escalated from verbal abuse to physical violence.

Witnesses said the man assaulted at least two people, including passengers and flight attendants.

One particularly disturbing allegation is that he choked the passenger sitting beside him.

Another passenger who attempted to intervene was allegedly bitten.

The behavior became serious enough that other passengers and members of the crew stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating further.

PASSENGERS BECAME THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

Juan Mejia, a passenger who previously worked in law enforcement, and fellow passenger Richard Olenick intervened.

Mejia told ABC News that he and Olenick had been monitoring the situation before deciding they needed to act.

Their goal, they said, was not to injure the passenger.

It was to keep him under control until the aircraft could land safely.

Eventually, the crew provided duct tape and zip ties.

The passenger was restrained to his seat, with his hands secured, while the plane continued toward Baltimore.

He remained restrained for roughly the final 15 minutes of the flight.

THE PLANE WAS FORCED TO DIVERT

Flight 618 was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport at approximately 10:15 p.m.

When the aircraft landed, law enforcement officers boarded the plane and took the passenger into custody.

The aircraft was then able to continue to Newark after the passenger was removed.

American Airlines confirmed the diversion and said the safety and security of its customers and employees remained its highest priority.

WHO WAS THE PASSENGER?

The man was identified as Arthur “Layne” Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, Arizona.

Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested him after the aircraft landed.

He was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct in connection with incidents that occurred aboard the aircraft.

Lundeen was later released, and the case remains unresolved.

The FBI is investigating the events that occurred in the air and is considering whether federal charges may be appropriate. The FAA is also investigating the incident.

WAS ALCOHOL INVOLVED?

That question remains unanswered.

PEOPLE reported that Lundeen had been served one alcoholic drink during the flight, but it is not clear whether alcohol contributed to his behavior.

Authorities have not publicly established what caused the alleged outburst.

FROM FIRST CLASS TO POLICE CUSTODY

What began as an ordinary commercial flight ended with one passenger restrained to his seat, an unexpected landing in Baltimore and a police investigation.

Photos of Lundeen bound with duct tape quickly spread online, turning a frightening incident inside a commercial aircraft into a viral story.

But behind the shocking images is a more serious question:

How did a routine flight from Texas to New Jersey turn into a situation where passengers felt they had to physically restrain another traveler in midair?

That question is now part of the investigation.

Lundeen has been charged, but he has not been convicted, and the allegations against him remain unresolved.

The FBI and FAA investigations are ongoing.