6th September 2026 – (New York) An American Airlines service bound for Newark Liberty International Airport diverted to Baltimore after passengers helped cabin crew restrain a disruptive traveller with duct tape and zip ties. Witnesses said the turmoil erupted about two hours after take‑off from Dallas–Fort Worth on 3rd September, when a man in the first‑class cabin allegedly launched racist and homophobic abuse, then grabbed the neck of the passenger seated beside him. Two travellers seated nearby, retired law enforcement officer Juan Mejia and Richard Olenick, intervened and held the suspect until the aircraft landed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where law enforcement boarded the plane.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police identified the passenger as Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Arizona. He was taken into custody on state charges as federal agents began reviewing the in‑flight incident for potential federal offences. The flight later continued to Newark.
American Airlines said safety is its top priority, adding that violence is not tolerated and thanking its crew and customers for their professionalism and understanding during the diversion of Flight 618 on 3rd September. Passengers described the crew as calm and methodical while providing restraints as the situation escalated.
Mejia said the outburst was sudden, likening it to a switch being flipped from quiet to chaos. He and Olenick reported using duct tape and zip ties supplied by a flight attendant to secure the man to his seat, remaining with him until police arrived. Images and video shared by news outlets show layers of tape around the man’s wrists, torso and head as he was restrained in the last row of first class.
Aviation and travel experts noted that restraining violent passengers in flight with approved materials is within standard protocol when safety is at risk and a diversion is necessary.