An Arizona realty company says it is “no longer associated” with an agent who was recently arrested after alleged unruly behavior – including racist and homophobic slurs – on an airline flight led to his being zip-tied, duct-taped to his seat and arrested.
Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67, faces counts of disorderly conduct and second-degree assault in the case, according to Maryland court records filed after he was taken into custody at Baltimore’s airport on 3 September.
Two fellow passengers who helped detain Lundeen later gave an interview to ABC News which described how he acted belligerently and hurled “racial slurs” on an American Airlines flight that took off from Dallas, which drew widespread attention. And one of them provided a photograph of Lundeen restrained with duct tape and zip ties in a plane seat that went viral online.
That set the stage for Tucson’s Long Realty Company, where Lundeen listed himself as a vice-president, broker and realtor, to issue a statement on Monday on social media saying it had “ended its affiliation” with him.
“The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity,” the company’s statement 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.”
Lundeen on Tuesday did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Long Realty’s statement or what authorities are portraying as the latest high-profile case of misbehavior – often criminal – colloquially referred to as air rage.
American Airlines said in a statement issued to media outlets that flight 618 was traveling from Dallas Fort Worth international airport to Newark Liberty international airport on 3 September when there was a “disruptive” passenger about two hours into the trip.
The plane was diverted and made an emergency landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall airport at about 10.15pm, and the passenger was arrested there, officials said.
Court records showed Maryland transportation authority police arrested Lundeen at the airport that day and booked him with two misdemeanors. He was released on his own recognizance the next day.
Yet the matter did not end there for Lundeen. Another traveler on the diverted flight, former law enforcement officer Juan Mejia, spoke with ABC on 4 September and recounted how the man identified as Lundeen had “made derogatory remarks to the staff of American Airlines and other passengers – racial slurs, vulgar language, very offensive to the women” sitting in his vicinity.
The New York Post, citing police, reported that Lundeen also spouted anti-gay insults.
Mejia and a friend accompanying him, Richard Olenick, told ABC that they intervened when Lundeen made the situation physical.
“Juan immediately knew that action had to be taken,” Olenick said to ABC. “He got up right away and jumped in the seat right next to the passenger and began working on restraining him in order to keep the situation contained.”
Olenick also supplied photos of Lundeen bound to a window seat with duct tape and zip ties.
In short order, Lundeen’s links to Long Realty surfaced, and the company spent part of the Labor Day holiday on Monday announcing it had severed its relationship with him.
“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,” said the company’s statement, which did not name Lundeen. “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.”
Lundeen as of Tuesday was tentatively scheduled to be in court in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on 19 October in connection with his arrest.