FlightFollowerRestrained With Zip Ties and Duct Tape: American 618's Diversion to BWI
An American Airlines flight from Dallas to Newark diverted to Baltimore after a passenger's outburst turned violent, and it was fellow passengers — not just the crew — who ended up physically restraining him for the rest of the flight.
From Quiet to Chaos
About two hours into Flight 618, witnesses described the cabin going, in one passenger's words, "from quiet to yelling and chaos." Arthur Lundeen, 67, of Arizona, became increasingly agitated, allegedly making racist and homophobic remarks before the situation escalated from verbal to physical.
A Flight Attendant, Then Fellow Passengers
A flight attendant tried to de-escalate the situation, but Lundeen grew more agitated rather than less, hitting the passenger seated next to him and then a woman who tried to intervene. At that point, two passengers seated a few rows ahead stepped in — first using zip ties supplied by a flight attendant, then duct tape, to physically restrain him in his seat for the remainder of the flight.
Diverting Rather Than Continuing
Rather than continue on to Newark with a restrained but still-agitated passenger aboard, the crew diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, where law enforcement could meet the aircraft rather than wait for the original destination.
Police at the Gate
Maryland Transportation Authority Police boarded the aircraft on arrival and found Lundeen restrained to his seat by duct tape, his hands secured with zip ties — exactly as the passengers and crew had left him. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault.
What This Wasn't
This was a passenger-conduct and law-enforcement matter, not an aviation safety incident — no mechanical issue, no flight-control problem, nothing that falls under NTSB or FAA safety-investigation jurisdiction. The flight itself was never in any operational danger; the disruption was entirely about the cabin, not the aircraft.
This reconstruction was researched from official investigation records where they exist, the original air traffic control recording, and contemporary reporting. The aircraft movement, timeline and written account were assembled independently by Flight Follower. Where an investigation is open or no probable cause has been published, the account says so rather than offering one.
Timeline
Accident Facts
- Incident date
- September 3, 2026
- Aircraft
- (aircraft type not specified in available reporting)
- Location
- Aboard American Airlines Flight 618, Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Newark (EWR); diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)
- Operation
- Part 121 scheduled airline service
- Category
- Non-accident — in-flight passenger disturbance, diversion; no aircraft damage or flight-safety incident
- NTSB / FAA involvement
- None — this is a law-enforcement/passenger-conduct matter, not an aviation safety investigation
- Injuries
- Two passengers assaulted (a man and a woman who intervened); no serious injuries reported
Sources
- CNN, "Disruptive passenger duct-taped to first-class seat as plane makes emergency landing"
- ABC News, "Unruly passenger arrested after being restrained with duct tape during flight"
- Fox News, "American Airlines passenger duct-taped to seat after alleged racist, homophobic midair outburst"
- Fox Baltimore, "American Airlines passenger duct-taped to seat, plane diverted to BWI after disturbance"