American Airlines Flight Diverted After Passenger Restrained With Duct Tape
Newark, Sunday, 6 September 2026.
An American Airlines flight diverted to Baltimore on September 3, 2026, after passengers and crew duct-taped an violent passenger, 67-year-old Arthur Lundeen, to his seat following physical attacks.
American Airlines Flight Diverted After Passenger Restrained With Duct Tape
An American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) flight diverted to Baltimore on September 3, 2026, after passengers and crew duct-taped a violent passenger, 67-year-old Arthur Lundeen, to his seat following physical attacks [2]. The incident occurred on Flight 618, which originated from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and was headed to Newark Liberty International Airport [2]. Passengers reported that the individual became disruptive more than halfway through the journey, prompting crew intervention [3]. This event underscores the ongoing safety challenges faced by major commercial carriers in managing in-flight disturbances [1].
Passenger Restraint and Crew Response
Witnesses stated that the man yelled racial slurs and became violent toward another man seated nearby [1]. Images obtained by media outlets showed the restrained man duct-taped to his seat in the last row of the first-class cabin [1]. Passengers described the individual as thrashing around while flight attendants and other travelers held him down [1]. Three male passengers utilized duct tape and flexible handcuffs provided by the crew to secure the individual to ensure the safety of the aircraft [3]. One passenger noted that another traveler had to sit on the restrained man’s lap for 15 minutes while waiting for the plane to divert [3].
Diversion and Law Enforcement Action
The flight was detoured to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport due to the disorderly and unruly passenger [2]. What should have been a 3.5-hour journey turned into an eight-hour ordeal by the time the flight finally made it to Newark [1]. The total delay time amounted to 4.5 hours beyond the scheduled duration [1]. Maryland Transportation Authority police boarded the plane to attempt to remove the man, but he initially refused to leave [2]. Officers physically removed the passenger after he was cleared by paramedics for an open wound on his arm [2]. Lundeen was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault for incidents that occurred aboard the aircraft at BWI-Marshall [2]. The FBI Baltimore field office is investigating any incidents that took place in the air to determine if federal charges will be filed [2].
Airline Response and Safety Protocols
In a statement, American Airlines said that law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination [1]. The airline emphasized that the safety and security of customers and team members is their top priority and they do not tolerate violence [1]. American Airlines thanked their team members for their professionalism and customers for their understanding during the disruption [2]. The incident remains under investigation by relevant authorities [2]. This event highlights the critical protocols surrounding in-flight passenger disruptions facing major commercial carriers today [1].