Overview
- A passenger on American Airlines Flight 618 from Dallas/Fort Worth to Newark became violent and used racial and homophobic slurs, prompting crew and fellow travelers to restrain him and the pilot to divert the plane to Baltimore.
- Passengers and flight attendants used zip ties and extensive duct tape to bind the man to his first‑class seat while crew and other travelers held him down until the aircraft landed safely.
- Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested the man after the plane landed; court and police records identify him as Arthur (Layne) Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, who was charged with second‑degree assault and disorderly conduct and released on his own recognizance.
- The FBI is interviewing witnesses and consulting the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether federal charges are warranted, and the FAA says it is investigating the incident reported to have occurred on Sept. 3.
- The episode highlights a wider 2026 surge in unruly inflight incidents, the common use of improvised restraints such as duct tape and zip ties, and the potential for steep FAA fines or federal prosecution when crew are interfered with.