An American Airlines flight was forced to divert to Baltimore after a passenger allegedly became violent during the journey, eventually requiring crew members and fellow passengers to restrain him with duct tape and zip ties.
American Airlines Flight 618 was traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sept. 3 when the disturbance began roughly two hours into the flight. According to PEOPLE, the passenger was seated in first class and allegedly began shouting racial and homophobic slurs at people around him.
Witnesses told investigators and media outlets that the situation quickly escalated. The passenger allegedly struck another traveler and became physically aggressive when people attempted to intervene. One witness also alleged that the man tried to strangle his seatmate.
Crew members and passengers eventually managed to restrain the man. He was secured to his seat with duct tape, while his hands were restrained with zip ties as the aircraft diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The plane landed safely in Baltimore at around 10:15 p.m., where law enforcement officers met the aircraft and took the passenger into custody. The flight later continued to Newark after the passenger was removed.
The passenger was identified by Maryland authorities as 67-year-old Arthur Lundeen of Arizona. He was arrested on state charges, while the FBI is conducting interviews and consulting with federal prosecutors about whether additional federal charges could follow. The FAA is also investigating the incident.
American Airlines said it does not tolerate violence and praised its crew and passengers for helping maintain safety during the incident. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disturbance remains ongoing.