The unruly passenger who was duct-taped to his seat on an American Airlines flight was fired from the company he was working with as the VP.
67-year-old Arthur Lundeen, the man who was duct-taped to his seat on an American Airlines flight after he created a nuisance, has been fired from the real estate company where he was the VP — after the incident. Maryland Transportation Police arrested Lundeen, while the FBI later confirmed that it was investigating the incident.
The FBI is also investigating the incident and could pursue federal charges, authorities said. Long Realty, a Tucson-based real-estate company, said it terminated its affiliation with Lundeen after learning about the incident. “Long Realty is aware of reports concerning criminal charges filed against a former affiliated real estate agent arising from an incident that allegedly occurred during a commercial flight,” the company said in a statement. “The conduct described in the reports is wholly inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others that Long Realty expects from those affiliated with the company,” the statement read.
The flight from Dallas to Newark had to be diverted to Baltimore last week as Lundeen started using racial and homophobic slurs on the flight. Lundeen was arrested after the flight landed and faces state charges including second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
The flight was diverted to Baltimore because of what American Airlines described as a “disruptive customer”.
Law enforcement officers met the aircraft after it landed and removed the passenger before the flight continued to Newark.