A 67-year-old man was allegedly restrained to his seat with cable ties and duct tape by two fellow passengers after becoming verbally abusive and violent aboard an American Airlines flight.
The flight was travelling from Dallas to Newark last Thursday when it was diverted to Thurgood Marshall Baltimore/Washington International Airport following the incident.
The Maryland Transportation Authority identified the passenger as Arthur Lundeen, 67.
Witness Richard O’Lenick, 53, said Lundeen had allegedly directed racist remarks at a flight attendant before his behaviour escalated.
After the plane landed, authorities removed Lundeen from the aircraft. Court records showed he was charged with two misdemeanour offences — second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Lundeen, who is from Tucson, Arizona, reportedly waived his right to legal counsel during the court proceedings and was released on his own recognisance.
American Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, while the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said they were investigating.
According to the FAA, more than 1,160 incidents involving unruly or aggressive passengers have been reported so far this year.
The figure remains significantly lower than the peak recorded in 2021, during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, when 5,973 incidents were reported.
