Employer releases statement as American Airlines passenger duct taped to plane seat loses job

The Arizona man who was duct-taped to his seat in first class while on board an American Airlines flight last week has now been fired from his job. 

Arthur “Layne” Lundeen, 67, allegedly started a racist and homophobic rant while on American Airlines flight 618 from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday (3rd September), ABC News reports. Things allegedly began turning violent, with the man accused of trying to hit and bite other passengers, which led to him being restrained to his seat.

With the help of two passengers sitting nearby, retired New Jersey police officer Juan Mejia and Richard Olenick, flight attendants used duct tape and zip ties to restrain him. The plane then made an emergency landing in Baltimore, Maryland, where Lundeen was removed from the plane. 

He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault “for incidents that occurred aboard the aircraft at BWI Airport,” Maryland Transportation Authority Police said. The passenger has since been released and is due to appear in court on 19th October.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Richard Olenick (@richardolenick)

In the latest update, the man has now lost his job in real estate following the incident. The real estate company in Tucson where he reportedly worked as a vice president shared that it has “ended its affiliation” with Lundeen in a Facebook statement on Sunday. 

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“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. Upon learning of the incident, Long Realty promptly ended its affiliation with the individual. The individual is no longer associated with or authorised to represent Long Realty in any capacity,” Kevin Kaplan, CEO of Long Realty, said.

“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. We expect those associated with our company to uphold those values, and we have no tolerance for conduct that so clearly falls short of those expectations. Our focus remains on serving our clients and community in accordance with our values. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew members, and others affected by this incident.”

Credit: Marcin Golba/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

An American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement shared by CNN: “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.”

The investigation by the FBI is still ongoing. 

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Featured image credit: @richardolenick/Instagram and Marcin Golba/NurPhoto/Shutterstock