Arizona realtor arrested after violent incident on American Airlines flight
A Tucson real estate agent was detained after assaulting passengers and flight crew on a September 3 flight, leading to his dismissal by his employer and an ongoing investigation by authorities.
A 67-year-old Tucson real estate agent, Layne Arthur Lundeen, was arrested by Maryland Transportation Authority Police after a mid-air disturbance on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark on Sept. 3. The incident forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Baltimore.
According to fellow passengers, Lundeen began shouting obscenities and slurs toward a flight attendant before physically attacking a seatmate, attempting to strangle him and biting a crew member. When a woman intervened, Lundeen allegedly struck her, prompting a store manager and a retired police officer on board to intervene. The retired officer restrained Lundeen while the store manager used zip ties and duct tape provided by flight attendants to limit his movements, avoiding a mouth-covering method to keep his airway clear.
Long Realty, Lundeen’s employer, terminated his employment shortly after the arrest, stating that his conduct was "wholly inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others" expected of its staff. American Airlines praised the crew and passengers for their quick response, emphasizing that the airline does not tolerate violence. The FBI is interviewing witnesses to determine whether federal charges will be added to state charges.