An Arizona real estate agent was fired from his job after making headlines for being duct-taped and zip-tied to his seat following a disruptive outburst an American Airlines flight.
The New York Post reports 67-year-old Arthur Layne Lundeen was dropped from his position as a vice president with the Tucson-based Long Realty when he was publicly identified as the passenger subjected to extreme confinement in his first-class seat after screaming racist and homophobic slurs against the flight crew on a Thursday evening flight. A retired law enforcement officer who was a passenger on the flight helped the crew subdue Lundeen.
“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,” said the company in a Facebook statement. “Upon learning of the incident, Long Realty promptly ended its affiliation with the individual. The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity. 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.”
A photograph of the bound Lundeen went viral over the past few days, but his identity has only now been confirmed. His former employer added, “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 thoughts are with the passengers, crew members, and others affected by this incident.”
Lundeen’s Dallas-to-Newark flight was diverted to Baltimore due to his actions, and he was taken from the airplane and arrested upon landing. He faces state-level charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Photo by Richard O’Lenick via Storyful
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