NEWARK, NJ — An American Airlines passenger was duct-taped to his seat on Thursday night after hitting another passenger and using racist and homophobic slurs to the flight attendants, according to reports.
The passenger, who has been identified by multiple outlets as Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, from Arizona, was flying from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark Liberty International Airport when the incident happened.
Lundeen was a real estate agent in Arizona but has since been fired, the New York Post reported.
According to TMZ, which published video of him being taped to the seat, Lundeen started yelling at the passenger next to him and when a Black flight attendant came over to try to calm Lundeen down,used the n--- word and also used an anti-gay slur.
He then hit the man sitting next to him and hit the man's laptop, the report said.
Juan Mejia, who told ABC 7 Eyewitness News he is a former law enforcement officer, said he and his friend, Richard Olenick, intervened when they saw Lundeen hit the passenger next to him.
They then duct-taped Lundeen to the seat and used zipties on his wrists and stayed with him until Lundeen was removed from the flight, according to the ABC report.
Mejia told CBS News the incident happened in first class. He and Olenick were sitting two rows in front of Lundeen when it "went from quiet to yelling and chaos."
As they restrained Lundeen he fought back, and bit Mejia on the hand, leaving teeth marks, according to the CBS report.
The flight was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport around 10:15 p.m. and Lundeen was removed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident.
The flight then continued to Newark, according to the FAA.
Lundeen was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault, ABC reported.
Long Realty, where Lundeen worked, posted a statement on Facebook.
"Upon learning of the incident, Long Realty promptly ended its affiliation with the individual," the post said. "The conduct described in the reports is wholly inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others that Long Realty expects from those affiliated with the company. We expect those associated with our company to uphold those values, and we have no tolerance for conduct that so clearly falls short of those expectations. ... Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew members and others affected by this incident."
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