American Airlines Passenger Claims Memory Loss After Duct-taping
WHO:
The Guardian - Layne Lundeen, a 67-year-old American Airlines passenger.
The Guardian - Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer and passenger who helped restrain Lundeen.
The Guardian - Richard Olenick, a passenger who also helped restrain Lundeen.
The Guardian - Long Realty, Lundeen's former employer in Tucson, Arizona.
WHAT:
The Guardian - Lundeen was duct-taped to his first-class seat on American Airlines Flight 618 due to alleged unruly behavior.
The Guardian - Lundeen was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct after the flight was diverted for an emergency landing.
The Guardian - Lundeen stated in court, “I don’t remember any of what happened.”
The Guardian - Long Realty announced it had “ended its affiliation” with Lundeen following the incident.
WHERE:
The Guardian - The flight was originally traveling from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, and was diverted to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall airport.
The Guardian - Long Realty is located in Tucson, Arizona.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The incident occurred on 3 September.
The Guardian - Lundeen had a court hearing the following day after the incident.
WHY:
The Guardian - Lundeen's alleged outburst included racial and homophobic slurs, which prompted the crew and passengers to restrain him.
HOW:
The Guardian - Lundeen was restrained using duct tape and zip ties by passengers and crew members during the flight.
(UPDATED September 17, 2026 19:03 UTC)
An American Airlines passenger, Layne Lundeen, was duct-taped to his first-class seat on Flight 618 due to alleged unruly behavior that included racial and homophobic slurs, prompting an emergency landing in Baltimore. Lundeen faces charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, and he stated in court, “I don’t remember any of what happened,” while his former employer, Long Realty in Tucson, Arizona, announced it had ended its affiliation with him. Passengers and crew members, including former law enforcement officer Juan Mejia and Richard Olenick, helped restrain Lundeen using duct tape and zip ties during the incident.