An American Airlines flight traveling from Texas to New Jersey was forced to make an unexpected diversion to Maryland after a passenger became disruptive, used racial and homophobic slurs, and allegedly assaulted fellow travelers, according to officials and witnesses CBS News. American Airlines Flight 618, which originated at Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport and was headed toward Newark Liberty International Airport, landed safely at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport around 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 3, according to the Federal Aviation Administration WJLA.
American Airlines Flight Diverted After Passenger Meltdown
Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Arizona, was identified by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police as the passenger who caused the mid-air disturbance abcnews.com. Witnesses stated that the chaos began when the traveler turned hostile toward his seatmate, striking him and smashing a computer nypost.com. When a female passenger attempted to intervene, she was pushed back by Lundeen nypost.com. Passengers and crew members stepped in as the situation escalated, with witnesses reporting that he directed racial and anti-gay slurs at a flight attendant CBS News.
Passengers and Crew Restrain Disruptive Traveler
Faced with mounting violence inside the cabin, passengers—including retired law enforcement officer Juan Mejia and Richard Olenick—intervened to subdue the unruly flyer CBS News. Using zip ties provided by a flight attendant along with duct tape, the travelers secured Lundeen to his seat CBS News. Photos and video footage from the incident showed the man bound to his seat with multiple loops of tape wrapped around his wrists, torso, and head CBS News. One passenger also had to sit on him to keep him immobilized until the aircraft could land safely WBAL-TV.
Juan immediately knew that action had to be taken,
Richard Olenick told abcnews.com. He got up right away and jumped in the seat right next to the passenger and began working on restraining him in order to keep the situation contained.
Mejia added that they aimed strictly to control the individual and prevent further escalation rather than cause harm abcnews.com.
Arrest at BWI and Ongoing Federal Investigations
Upon landing at BWI, law enforcement officers met the aircraft WBAL-TV. According to witnesses, Lundeen initially refused to leave his seat, requiring police to physically remove him from the plane WBAL-TV. Paramedics cleared Lundeen for an open wound on his arm noticed by officers during the arrest abcnews.com. Once law enforcement removed the disruptive passenger, the flight resumed its journey to Newark WBAL-TV.
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police booked Lundeen on state charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct abcnews.com, foxbaltimore.com. Court records indicate he was released on bail on his own recognizance, with a trial date scheduled for Oct. 19 in Glen Burnie foxbaltimore.com. Meanwhile, the FBI Baltimore Field Office is conducting interviews and consulting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed CBS News. The Federal Aviation Administration is also probing the incident WJLA, noting that airlines have reported more than 1,160 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026 nypost.com.