New Jersey gun range owner was behind duct-taping of passenger who melted down on American Airlines flight

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A New Jersey gun range owner and his employee have been identified as the passengers who stepped up and duct-taped an out-of-control traveler to his airplane seat after he had a meltdown on an American Airlines flight last week.

Richard O’Lenick, who owns Gun for Hire in Woodland Park, was on Flight 618 from Dallas to Newark last Thursday when Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, Arizona, allegedly began attacking the passenger next to him.

“Everyone on the entire plane was on alert that something was not right but we didn’t know what was going on or why,” O’Lenick told The Daily Voice.

When flight crew tried to intervene, Lundeen allegedly launched into a racist and homophobic rant and refused to follow their commands. During the outburst, he hit and grabbed another passenger by their throat, and hit the woman sitting behind him, O’Lenick said.

Once Lundeen became violent, O’Lenick and his employee, Luan Mejia, a retired police officer, stepped in to protect the other passengers, he said.

Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, Arizona, allegedly began attacking the passenger next to him. He was arrested upon arrival and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault (Instagram/Richard Olenick)

“I knew we were going to be doing this together, it wasn’t a thought,” O’Lenick said.

While the two men worked to restrain Lundeen using duct-tape, he fought back and allegedly bit Mejia.

“He was still fighting us through the entire process,” O’Lenick said, adding that at one point Lundeen spoke directly to him.

“I don’t love to fly, and he just looks at me and goes, ‘We’re all going to die. This plane is going to crash.’ And I said, ‘You’re going to meet a couple of new friends when we land.’”

Lundeen eventually settled down. The flight was being diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland.

“It was a pretty volatile situation for a while,” O’Lenick said. “Safety was definitely a concern, and not knowing where it was going and what the intent was.”

A photo of Lundeen restrained with duct-tape and zip ties in his plane seat has gone viral online. The unruly passenger was taped to his seat for about 15 minutes, Mejia told CBS News.

Lundeen was fired from his job as a realtor over the incident (Linkedin)

He was arrested upon arrival in Baltimore by Maryland Transportation Authority police and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault.

The FBI has taken over the investigation but it was unclear if Lundeen will face any additional federal charges. The bureau told Newsweek in a statement that it is “conducting interviews to gather the facts and will consult with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland to determine if federal charges will be filed.”

Attempts to reach Lundeen for comment were unsuccessful. Long Realty, where Lundeen had been listed as a vice president, previously told The Independent it was severing its ties with him.

“The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity,” the company said in a statement. “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 waived the right to an attorney during his first court appearance Friday.

American Airlines also issued a statement acknowledging the incident. “On Sept. 3, American Airlines flight 618 diverted to Baltimore (BWI) due to a disruptive customer. Upon arrival, law enforcement met the aircraft and assisted with deplaning the customer before the flight continued to its destination,’ it read.

“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.”

Lundeen’s next court appearance has been set for October 19.