An American Airlines flight was diverted to Baltimore after a passenger, identified as Arizona realtor Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67, allegedly engaged in an alcohol-fueled, racist, and homophobic rant. The incident occurred on Thursday night aboard American Airlines Flight 618 traveling from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey.
Fellow passengers reported that Lundeen began yelling at the person seated next to him around 10 p.m., approximately 75% through the journey. The tirade reportedly included comments about Jesus and going to hell, prompting a flight attendant to intervene. According to reports, Lundeen then allegedly used racial slurs against a Black flight attendant and made homophobic remarks.
When a female passenger attempted to de-escalate the situation, Lundeen allegedly pushed her. Three male passengers then intervened, and Lundeen is accused of biting one and attempting to bite another. Juan Mejia, a retired police officer on the flight, described the scene as a sudden shift from quiet to chaos, noting that Lundeen had his hands around the neck of the passenger next to him.
Mejia and another passenger, Richard Olenick, with assistance from a flight attendant, used duct tape to restrain Lundeen to his seat. Reports indicate Lundeen attempted to free himself while the other passengers held him down.
Following the diversion to Baltimore, Lundeen was removed from the aircraft and taken into custody on state charges. Federal charges could also be filed by the FBI. American Airlines confirmed the flight diversion was due to a disruptive customer, stating that the safety and security of customers and team members is a top priority and violence is not tolerated.
Lundeen, who has reportedly lived in the Tucson area since the 1980s, was vice president for Long Realty in Tucson. The real estate company confirmed to the Daily Mail that Lundeen is no longer employed with them, stating his conduct was inconsistent with the company's values. "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," said CEO Kevin Kaplan.