By Gloria Ogbonna
An American Airlines flight traveling from Dallas to Newark was diverted to Baltimore on Thursday night after a 67-year-old passenger allegedly became disruptive and physically confrontational during the flight, according to authorities and the airline.
The passenger, identified as Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Arizona, was taken into custody after the aircraft landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
According to the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Lundeen was restrained to his seat with duct tape, while his hands were secured with zip ties during the flight.
The incident occurred aboard American Airlines Flight AA 618, which had departed Dallas and was bound for Newark, the airline and the FBI said.
Passengers Describe Disturbance During Flight
Passengers aboard the aircraft said the situation became increasingly concerning as the flight progressed.
Juan Mejia, a passenger who said he is a former law enforcement officer, told ABC that he began hearing a disturbance approximately three-quarters of the way through the flight.
Mejia said the man, who was sitting several rows away, allegedly began acting belligerently and directing offensive comments toward airline employees and other passengers.
According to Mejia, the passenger allegedly made derogatory remarks, used racial slurs and shouted vulgar language. He also claimed some of the comments were particularly offensive to women seated nearby.
Mejia and his friend, Richard Olenick, said they were watching the situation closely and eventually became involved after they believed the passenger had become physically aggressive.
Olenick told ABC that Mejia immediately recognized that the situation needed to be contained.
“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,” Olenick said.
The passengers said their goal was not to injure Lundeen but to prevent the disturbance from escalating while the plane was still in the air.
“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,” Mejia said.
Flight Diverted to Baltimore
Authorities did not immediately release a detailed account of exactly what occurred during the flight or what allegedly caused Lundeen’s behavior.
However, the disturbance was serious enough for the aircraft to be diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane arrived at BWI at approximately 10:15 p.m. The FAA is also investigating the incident.
After the aircraft landed, Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers boarded the plane and took Lundeen into custody.
Mejia and Olenick said they remained with Lundeen until law enforcement arrived.
American Airlines confirmed that the passenger was removed from the aircraft and that the flight subsequently continued to Newark.
Passenger Faces Criminal Charges
According to the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Lundeen was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault in connection with incidents that occurred aboard the aircraft at BWI Airport.
Police also said Lundeen was evaluated by paramedics after officers noticed an open wound on his arm while taking him into custody. He was reportedly cleared by medical personnel.
The circumstances surrounding the injury were not immediately clear.
Authorities did not indicate whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
FBI Investigating What Happened in the Air
The FBI is investigating the reported conduct that occurred while the plane was in flight.
Federal authorities have not released additional details about the investigation, and officials have not publicly established what allegedly led to the confrontation or whether other passengers or crew members were injured.
The FBI said the investigation remains ongoing.
American Airlines said it has a zero-tolerance policy toward violence and emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority.
“The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we do not tolerate violence,” the airline said in a statement.
The incident highlights the challenges airlines and passengers can face when disruptive behavior escalates while an aircraft is thousands of feet in the air, where flight crews must work quickly to maintain safety and order.
The investigation by federal and local authorities remains ongoing, and additional details could be released as investigators review witness statements and other evidence from the flight.
Source ABC7
Original article
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