An Arizona man was arrested for alleged unruly behavior on an American Airlines flight that forced the aircraft to divert to Baltimore on Thursday night, according to the airline and investigators.
Arthur Lundeen, 67, was restrained to his seat with duct tape and had his hands secured with zip ties, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, who took him into custody after the plane landed.
The incident occurred on American Airlines flight AA 618, traveling from Dallas to Newark, according to the FBI and the airline. The plane was diverted to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport around 10:15 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Passengers on the flight reported that the disturbance began roughly three quarters of the way through the trip. Juan Mejia, a passenger and former law enforcement officer, stated that the individual sitting two rows behind him became belligerent, using racial slurs, vulgar language, and making derogatory remarks to staff and other passengers.
Mejia and Richard Olenick, another passenger, intervened to restrain the man to prevent further escalation. They remained with the individual until law enforcement boarded the aircraft in Baltimore. Lundeen was cleared by paramedics for an open wound on his arm discovered during his arrest.
Lundeen faces charges of disorderly conduct and second-degree assault for incidents occurring aboard the aircraft, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
American Airlines stated that the safety and security of customers and team members is their top priority and they do not tolerate violence. The FBI is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident.
