Sonali Tiwary
An American Airlines flight heading from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark was diverted to Baltimore after a passenger became violently disruptive in the cabin. Crew members restrained the man using duct tape. He later said he has no memory of what happened. Here is what the charges show and what passengers facing similar incidents can expect under federal law.
The flight was American Airlines Flight 618, operating on September 3. The aircraft was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, where the passenger, Layne Arthur Lundeen, was taken into custody by Maryland Transportation Authority Police. Maryland court records confirm Lundeen was charged on September 4 with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. These charges arise from events aboard the aircraft. The existence of charges does not establish guilt. Lundeen has not been convicted. His stated inability to recall the incident has not been medically established or confirmed by a physician.
Federal law under 49 U.S.C. § 46504 classifies physical or verbal interference with flight crew duties as a federal felony. Penalties can reach 20 years in prison and civil fines up to $37,000 per incident. In addition to criminal charges, passengers whose behavior forces unscheduled diversions routinely face civil restitution claims from airlines seeking tens of thousands of dollars to cover wasted jet fuel, gate relocation fees, and ground crew overtime.
Commercial aircraft carry government-approved security kits including polymer flex-cuff restraints. Under the Tokyo Convention and federal aviation regulations, the pilot-in-command holds authority to use reasonable physical force, including physical restraints, to protect the aircraft and those aboard. Public FAA guidance does not list duct tape as a standard restraint device; reports that crew used tape in this case should be treated as incident-specific and subject to official review. [LINK: Airline passenger rights and compensation rules]
Cabin crews who apply restraints in emergency conditions are protected from personal civil battery claims when acting within their authorized safety duties. The FAA tracks unruly passenger incidents through its enforcement reporting system and may open a separate investigation independent of state criminal proceedings.
Crew members using physical force to contain a disruptive passenger are not acting outside their authority — it is a documented procedure for cabin safety emergencies. Whether the crew’s actions in this specific case followed all protocols will be examined in legal proceedings.
Lundeen’s case has been referred to prosecutors. The next court hearing will determine the direction of the Maryland charges. The FAA may separately review the incident. Check back for updates on the court proceedings.
