A passenger on an American Airlines flight had to be duct-taped to his seat for his disruptive behaviour.
The incident took place on American Airlines flight 618, which was en route to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The flight had to be diverted to Baltimore due to the man’s unruly behaviour.
Photos and videos of the incident show the man’s hand tied with a zip tie and duct tape wrapped around him, including on his head, connecting him to the seat.
The man has been identified as Arthur Lundeen. The 67-year-old is now facing charges for second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was released on bond on September 4.
Passengers aboard the flight, Juan Mejia and Richard Olenick, told CBS that the chaos unfolded about two hours after the flight took off from Dallas, Texas. They said that they turned around to see a man two rows behind them in the first class section become suddenly belligerent.
"Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos," Mejia said. "I turned around to look, and the poor gentleman that was sitting next to him in the aisle seat, the individual had his hands around his neck and was, like, assaulting him."
"He called one of the flight attendants the N word," Olenick said.
"Everyone who was in first class was basically victimised by his spewing of hatred and the discrimination, and the hostility, and vulgarity that was coming out of his mouth," Mejia said.
Both Mejia and Olenick helped restrain the man using the duct tape and zip ties provided by the flight attendant. Three male passengers and the flight attendants used the items to tie the man to his seat and hold him down.
Lundeen fought back, according to the passengers, by biting them. He was also bleeding from a cut that he inflicted on himself.
They said that alcohol may have played a part in the man’s outburst. "I remember one of the stewardesses saying they only gave him one drink," Mejia said.
Lundeen was restrained for 15 minutes before the flight landed in Baltimore, and he was arrested.
An American Airlines spokesperson said that the flight had to be 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,” they said. “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.” The statement read.
The flight continued to Newark after Lundeen was removed.
Restraining unruly passengers with zip ties and duct tape is common protocol on US flights.
