A 67-year-old Arizona real estate executive has been fired after an alleged mid-flight outburst involving racist and homophobic slurs led fellow passengers to restrain him with duct tape and zip ties.
Arthur Layne Lundeen, a Tucson-based real estate agent and former vice president at Long Realty, was involved in the incident aboard American Airlines Flight 618, which was travelling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark on September 3, 2026.
According to witnesses, Lundeen became increasingly aggressive about two hours into the flight, allegedly directing racial slurs at a Black flight attendant and making homophobic and other offensive remarks toward passengers.
The situation reportedly escalated when he became physically violent, including allegedly assaulting another passenger and biting one of the men who intervened.
Two passengers, Juan Mejia, a retired law enforcement officer, and Richard Olenick, stepped in to help restrain Lundeen. With assistance from flight attendants, they used zip ties and duct tape to secure him to his seat until the aircraft could land safely.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport because of what American Airlines described as a “disruptive customer.” Lundeen was taken into custody by Maryland Transportation Police after the plane landed.
He was charged at the state level with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The FBI said it is conducting interviews and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine whether federal charges should be filed.
Following the incident, Long Realty terminated its affiliation with Lundeen.
The company said his reported conduct was inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion and respect expected of people associated with the firm, adding that he was no longer authorised to represent Long Realty in any capacity.
Lundeen’s professional profile, which had identified him as a vice president at Long Realty, was subsequently removed from the company’s website.
American Airlines said the safety and security of its customers and crew remained its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence on its flights.
