A passenger on an American Airlines flight allegedly went on a disturbing tirade involving racist and anti-gay slurs before fellow passengers restrained him with zip ties and duct tape, ultimately forcing the aircraft to divert.
The incident happened September 3 aboard American Airlines Flight 618, traveling from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport, was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport after the alleged incident.
A passenger was duct-taped to his seat after allegedly making racist and anti-gay remarks on an American Airlines flight.
According to TMZ, the man allegedly used the N-word toward a Black flight attendant and became violent, hitting another passenger and pushing a woman who… pic.twitter.com/GuqwkeEdoh
— Complex (@Complex) September 4, 2026
An Alleged Tirade at 30,000 Feet
According to footage obtained by TMZ, the man who was later identified as 67-year-old Arizona realtor Arthur Layne Lundeen, was eventually restrained in his seat, with duct tape covering parts of his forehead, chin, chest, torso, arms, and hands. His wrists and hands were also secured together.
The extraordinary response reportedly followed an escalating confrontation with another male passenger.
According to information obtained by TMZ, Lundeen began yelling at the man seated beside him, reportedly shouting about Jesus and people going to hell. Unsurprisingly, he also allegedly used both the N-word and the F-word during the incident.
A flight attendant reportedly attempted to calm the situation, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Lundeen allegedly directed the N-word at the flight attendant and is also accused of striking the other passenger’s computer.
Things reportedly escalated further when a female passenger attempted to intervene and was allegedly pushed by the disruptive passenger. At that point, three other male passengers reportedly stepped in to help restrain him. One of the passengers who helped is even heard telling Lundeen to “relax” while trying to restrain him.
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The Flight Had to Divert
American Airlines confirmed to TMZ that Flight 618 was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, rather than continuing directly to Newark.
“On Sept. 3, American Airlines flight 618 diverted to Baltimore (BWI) from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport due to a disruptive customer,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline added that law enforcement met the aircraft after landing and assisted with removing the passenger before the flight continued to its destination.
American Airlines also emphasized that the safety and security of its passengers and crew remain its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence.
A Disturbing Reality of Air Travel
There is something particularly surreal about watching footage of someone completely restrained in an airplane seat, but the circumstances reportedly leading to it are considerably less entertaining.
Passengers and crew members are confined together inside a metal tube thousands of feet above the ground, leaving very little room for an escalating confrontation to play out safely. What began as an alleged verbal outburst reportedly progressed into physical altercations and ultimately required other passengers to intervene.
According to TMZ, Maryland Transportation Police arrested and booked the man on state charges following the incident.
The allegations, including the use of racist and anti-gay slurs, remain allegations, and the circumstances surrounding the incident will ultimately be determined through the legal process.
Still, one thing is certain: Flight 618’s journey to Newark took a very unexpected detour, and nobody aboard was likely expecting duct tape to become part of the itinerary.