The man whose photo on an American Airlines flight went viral as he was duct-taped to the seat by the crew and the other passengers has been identified as 67-year-old Arizonan Arthur Lundeen. He was arrested after an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark was diverted to Baltimore when he allegedly became violent, hurled racist and anti-LGBTQ slurs, and attacked people on board. The video of how he was brought under control and the photos of Lundeen taped to the seat went viral.Lundeen was identified by Maryland Transportation Authority Police as the passenger at the centre of the September 3 incident aboard American Airlines Flight 618. The flight was travelling from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey when the disturbance broke out.According to investigators and reports from passengers, the situation escalated roughly two hours into the flight. Lundeen allegedly began shouting profanities and racial and homophobic slurs. He reportedly directed an offensive racial slur at a Black flight attendant who attempted to intervene.The confrontation then allegedly turned physical. Lundeen was accused of striking the passenger sitting next to him and damaging the passenger’s computer. A woman who tried to help was also allegedly pushed.With the situation escalating inside the aircraft, other passengers and members of the flight crew intervened. Lundeen’s hands were restrained using zip ties, while duct tape was subsequently used to secure him to his seat.The aircraft was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where police boarded the plane and arrested Lundeen after it landed.According to Maryland court records cited in reports, Lundeen is from Tucson, Arizona. He has been charged in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
‘I would be scared if that person was on my flight’
Passengers at Baltimore/Washington International Airport said they were shocked by the images. “That’s crazy. I’ve never seen something like that. I would be scared if that person was on my flight,” BWI passenger Kaunain Hashmi said. Another passenger, Jeff Vogel, said he had heard of unruly passengers being restrained on flights but had never experienced anything similar.“Most of the flights I’ve been on have been pretty calm,” Vogel said. “But I’ve heard of flights where people are quite unruly and they have had to restrain people with zip ties and tape and all sorts of things.”Lundeen was released on bond on September 4, according to reports, and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 19.In a statement, American Airlines said the safety and security of its customers and team members is its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence.“On Sept. 3, American Airlines flight 618 diverted to Baltimore (BWI) due to a disruptive customer. Upon arrival, law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination. The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we do not tolerate violence. We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding,” said the airline.
