A passenger was removed from an American Airlines flight and subsequently fired from his position at Long Realty in Tucson, Arizona, following an incident where he allegedly used racial slurs and made derogatory remarks. Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, was identified as the individual who was duct-taped to his seat after causing a disturbance on flight 618 from Dallas to Newark on Thursday night.
Long Realty issued a statement on Facebook confirming that they were aware of the reports regarding criminal charges against Lundeen. The company stated, "Upon learning of the incident, Long Realty promptly ended its affiliation with the individual. The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity." The statement emphasized that the conduct described was inconsistent with the company's values of professionalism and respect.
Witness Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer, reported that Lundeen became belligerent and made offensive remarks towards the flight crew and other passengers. Mejia and another passenger, Richard Olenick, intervened to restrain Lundeen until the flight was diverted to Baltimore. Lundeen was arrested upon landing by Maryland Transportation Police.
The FBI confirmed that they are conducting interviews related to the incident and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine if federal charges will be filed. Lundeen faces state-level charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, according to court records.