Who is Arthur Lundeen? Arizona man taped to seat on American Airlines flight after alleged racist outburst

The man whose photo on an American Airlines flight went viral as the crew and other passengers taped him to his seat has been identified as 67-year-old Arthur Lundeen of Arizona. He was arrested after an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark was diverted to Baltimore when he allegedly became violent, hurling racist and anti-LGBTQ slurs and attacking people on board. The video of how they controlled him and the photos of Lundeen stuck to the seat went viral.Lundeen was identified by Maryland Transportation Authority Police as the passenger at the center of the Sept. 3 incident aboard American Airlines Flight 618. The flight was traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey when the disturbance broke out.According to investigators and passenger reports, the situation worsened approximately two hours into the flight. Lundeen allegedly began yelling profanities and racial and homophobic slurs. He reportedly directed an offensive racial slur at a black flight attendant who attempted to intervene.The confrontation then allegedly turned physical. Lundeen was accused of hitting the passenger seated next to him and damaging the passenger’s computer. A woman who tried to help was also pushed.When the situation escalated inside the plane, other passengers and flight crew members intervened. Lundeen’s hands were restrained with zip ties, while tape was later used to secure him to his seat.The plane was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where police boarded the plane and arrested Lundeen after landing.According to Maryland court records cited in the reports, Lundeen is from Tucson, Arizona. He has been charged in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

‘I would be scared if that person was on my flight’

Passengers at Baltimore/Washington International Airport said they were shocked by the images. “That’s crazy. I’ve never seen anything like that. I would be scared if that person was on my flight,” said BWI passenger Kaunain Hashmi. Another passenger, Jeff Vogel, said he had heard of unruly passengers being restrained on flights, but had never experienced anything similar.“Most of the flights I’ve been on have been pretty smooth,” Vogel said. “But I’ve heard of flights where people are quite unruly and they’ve had to restrain people with zip ties and tape and all sorts of things.”Lundeen was released on bail on September 4, according to reports, and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 19.In a statement, American Airlines said the safety of its customers and team members is its top priority and that it does not tolerate violence.“On September 3, American Airlines Flight 618 diverted to Baltimore (BWI) due to a disruptive customer. Upon arrival, authorities met the aircraft and helped disembark the customer before the flight continued to its destination. The safety 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,” the airline said.