Duct-Taped Passenger Claims He Doesn’t Remember Mid-Flight Outburst

An American Airlines passenger duct-taped to his seat claims he has no recollection of his alleged outburst, including racial and homophobic slurs.

Aboard American Airlines Flight 618 on September 3, 67-year-old Layne Lundeen was restrained in his first-class seat after allegedly becoming unruly. Flight 618 was originally traveling from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, but was diverted to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Lundeen was arrested upon landing and charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

Duct-Taped

Former law enforcement officer Juan Mejia, who was one of the passengers who restrained Lundeen, said that he “made derogatory remarks to the staff of American Airlines and other passengers – racial slurs, vulgar language, very offensive to the women.”

Another passenger, Richard Olenick, told CNN that Lundeen tried to hit the passenger next to him and a woman. Olenick, one of the passengers who duct-taped Lundeen, said,   “Physically it lessened his ability to move for sure, but it did not solve the issue. He was still pushing and resisting and trying to get up.”

American Airlines issued a statement regarding the incident. The airline said, “The safety ​and ​security ​of our customers ​and team members ​is our top ​priority and ​we ​do not ​tolerate violence. We thank our ​team members for ​their ​professionalism ​and ​our customers ​for ​their ​understanding.”

Lundeen’s Court Hearing

In a court hearing the following day, Lundeen said, “I don’t remember any of what happened.” After his charges were read to him, he said, “I assaulted a police officer? Is that what it says? I don’t have my glasses.” He added, “Oh my god, what a mess … I don’t remember any of it.”

Lundeen, who was affiliated with Long Realty, was fired following the incident. In a Facebook statement, the company announced that it “ended its affiliation” with Lundeen. 

The company said, “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.”