An American Airlines flight diverted BWI after a passenger disturbance disrupted a Dallas-to-Newark trip on September 3, 2026. Flight 618 was traveling from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport when the crew reported trouble involving a passenger. The aircraft landed safely at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at about 10:15 p.m. local time, where law enforcement boarded and took the passenger into custody.
The incident has drawn attention because passengers restrained the man during the flight, using duct tape and zip ties to keep him secured until the aircraft reached Baltimore. Authorities later arrested him after the plane landed. The FBI is investigating what happened during the flight, while the Federal Aviation Administration is also reviewing the incident.
The flight eventually continued to Newark after the passenger was removed. That means the diversion interrupted the trip but did not end the scheduled journey for the other passengers.
What Happened During Flight 618
American Airlines Flight 618 departed Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday, September 3, with Newark as its scheduled destination.
The trouble reportedly began during the latter portion of the flight. Passengers described a man in the first-class section becoming increasingly disruptive. Witnesses said he directed offensive remarks toward airline employees and other travelers.
The situation eventually became more serious.
Passenger Juan Mejia, a former law enforcement officer, told ABC News that he noticed the disturbance roughly three-quarters of the way through the journey. He and fellow passenger Richard Olenick later intervened when they believed the situation had become physical.
The passengers said their goal was to prevent the confrontation from escalating further.
The man was eventually restrained in his seat. His hands were also secured. Photographs taken aboard the aircraft later showed him restrained with duct tape while the plane continued toward Maryland.
Court records and police reports provide additional details about what happened after the aircraft arrived at BWI.
Why the Aircraft Went to Baltimore
The aircraft was originally scheduled to fly directly from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark. Instead, the crew changed course and landed in Baltimore because of the passenger disturbance.
The FAA confirmed that Flight 618 landed safely at BWI at approximately 10:15 p.m. Thursday. The agency identified the reported passenger disturbance as the reason for the diversion and said it would investigate.
A diversion gives the crew a way to address a serious onboard problem before reaching the original destination. In this case, landing at BWI allowed law enforcement officers to meet the aircraft and remove the passenger.
American Airlines confirmed that the diversion occurred because of a disruptive customer.
After authorities dealt with the passenger, the aircraft continued toward Newark.
That detail is important for travelers trying to understand the outcome. The aircraft did not remain at BWI indefinitely, and the incident did not result in the cancellation of the entire trip.
Passenger Was Restrained Before Landing
The unusual photographs from the incident quickly attracted attention.
They showed the passenger secured against his seat with duct tape. His hands were also restrained with zip ties.
The precise circumstances that led to those restraints remain part of the investigation. Police records describe the passenger as increasingly unruly, while witnesses provided additional accounts of his behavior.
Two passengers helped keep him restrained until the aircraft landed.
Mejia and Olenick later explained that they were attempting to control the situation rather than injure the passenger. Their accounts indicate that they stayed near him until officers arrived at BWI.
The circumstances inside the aircraft are now being reviewed by federal investigators.
Authorities have not announced a final conclusion about every part of the onboard confrontation. As a result, details attributed to individual witnesses should be distinguished from facts established through the official investigation.
Police Responded at BWI
Maryland Transportation Authority Police responded after the aircraft arrived at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Officers found the passenger restrained when they boarded the plane. They removed the restraints and took him into custody.
Police later said the man was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault in connection with incidents that occurred aboard the aircraft at BWI.
The assault allegation stems from the events surrounding the police response after landing.
The passenger also had an open wound on his arm that officers noticed while taking him into custody. Paramedics evaluated him and cleared him for that injury.
The passenger’s arrest marked the next stage of the incident after the aircraft landed safely.
Federal Investigation Is Still Underway
The case has not ended with the state arrest.
The FBI’s Baltimore field office confirmed that it responded following the diversion. Federal investigators are examining what happened during the flight and conducting interviews.
The agency has not announced a final decision about possible federal charges.
That investigation is significant because conduct occurring aboard a commercial aircraft can involve federal jurisdiction. Investigators can review passenger and crew statements, available video, photographs and other evidence before deciding whether additional action is appropriate.
The latest confirmed information does not establish that federal charges have been filed.
For now, the passenger faces the Maryland charges announced after the aircraft reached BWI.
FAA Is Reviewing the Flight
The FAA has separately confirmed that it is investigating the incident.
Its preliminary description states that Flight 618 departed Dallas-Fort Worth and was traveling to Newark when the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The aircraft landed safely in Baltimore at approximately 10:15 p.m.
The FAA’s investigation does not mean that the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure.
The available official information identifies the passenger disturbance as the reason for the diversion. There is no confirmed indication that a crash, loss of control or major aircraft malfunction caused the landing at BWI.
That distinction matters because some early reports described the landing as an emergency landing. The confirmed information points instead to an operational diversion prompted by the onboard situation.
Flight Continued After the Passenger Was Removed
The other passengers were not left at BWI after the arrest.
American Airlines confirmed that the disruptive passenger was removed with assistance from law enforcement. The flight then continued to its destination.
For the travelers aboard Flight 618, the incident therefore created an unexpected stop in Maryland before the trip resumed.
The aircraft had already traveled a significant portion of its planned route from Texas toward New Jersey. Rather than continue directly to Newark with the situation unresolved, the crew diverted to Baltimore.
Once the passenger was removed, the aircraft could continue.
The decision allowed the airline and authorities to address the immediate safety concern without keeping the rest of the passengers aboard with the disruptive traveler.
What Witnesses Reported
Witness accounts have provided some of the clearest details about the sequence of events, although investigators must still determine which allegations can be substantiated.
Mejia told ABC News that the passenger became belligerent and directed offensive language toward crew members and other passengers.
Olenick said the situation escalated enough that intervention became necessary.
The two men described their actions as an effort to contain the passenger.
Their accounts also indicate that the situation remained serious until the aircraft reached Baltimore.
The passenger was not simply asked to leave the aircraft after landing. Officers boarded, removed the restraints and took him into custody.
That response highlights why the crew chose to divert instead of continuing to Newark.
What American Airlines Said
American Airlines has described the incident as a matter involving a disruptive customer.
The airline has emphasized that the safety and security of customers and employees remain its priority. It also praised its team members for their professionalism and thanked passengers for their understanding.
The airline’s statement did not indicate that the aircraft had a mechanical problem.
It also confirmed that law enforcement met the aircraft at BWI and assisted with removing the passenger.
After that process was completed, the flight continued toward Newark.
The airline has not announced that the incident caused any continuing operational problem with Flight 618.
Who Was Arrested?
Authorities identified the passenger as Arthur Lundeen, a 67-year-old Arizona man.
Police arrested Lundeen after the aircraft reached BWI. He faces state charges of disorderly conduct and second-degree assault related to incidents at the airport.
Reports indicate that Lundeen appeared before a Maryland district court commissioner on September 4.
He was released on his own recognizance.
His case is scheduled for an October 19 hearing in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County in Glen Burnie.
The state case remains separate from the federal investigation into the events that occurred during the flight.
Because the investigation continues, allegations should not be treated as established facts beyond what authorities have formally reported.
What Happened to the Other Passengers?
The other travelers continued to Newark after the passenger was removed.
That outcome means the disruption did not turn into a full flight cancellation.
However, the diversion inevitably changed the planned schedule. Passengers traveling from Dallas to the New York metropolitan area had an unexpected stop in Maryland before continuing north.
The available confirmed reports do not indicate that the aircraft experienced a significant mechanical problem during the diversion.
The unexpected landing was linked to the passenger disturbance.
Once authorities removed the passenger, the aircraft resumed its journey.
Latest Status of the Incident
As of September 5, the investigation remains active.
The FAA has confirmed that it is reviewing the aviation incident. The FBI is examining the reported onboard conduct and has indicated that investigators are conducting interviews.
Lundeen faces Maryland state charges, while federal authorities have not announced whether additional charges will follow.
The most important confirmed developments are:
- Flight 618 departed Dallas-Fort Worth for Newark.
- A passenger disturbance developed during the flight.
- The crew diverted the aircraft to BWI.
- The aircraft landed safely at approximately 10:15 p.m.
- Law enforcement boarded after arrival.
- The passenger was removed and arrested.
- Maryland authorities filed state charges.
- The flight continued to Newark.
- The FAA is investigating the diversion.
- The FBI is investigating the reported conduct during the flight.
These details establish the current status without relying on speculation about what investigators may decide later.
Why the Incident Matters for Air Travelers
The case highlights how quickly an onboard passenger dispute can affect an entire flight.
A commercial aircraft has limited options once it is in the air. If a passenger becomes sufficiently disruptive, the crew must assess the situation while also protecting the other travelers and maintaining control of the aircraft.
A diversion can provide a safer way to resolve the problem.
That is what happened during Flight 618. Instead of allowing the situation to continue until Newark, the crew landed at BWI, where officers could take over.
The other passengers were then able to continue their journey.
The incident also demonstrates why early reports can change as investigators gather evidence. Witnesses may provide important information, but official investigations can reveal additional details or clarify disputed accounts.
What Comes Next
The immediate flight disruption has ended, but the legal and investigative process continues.
The FAA is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the diversion. The FBI is examining the reported behavior during the flight. Maryland authorities are handling the state criminal case.
Additional information could emerge as investigators complete interviews and review evidence.
At this point, there is no confirmed indication that the aircraft itself suffered a major safety failure. The central issue remains the passenger disturbance and the actions taken to control it.
The flight ultimately reached its scheduled destination after the stop in Baltimore.
For travelers searching for the latest status, the key development is that the aircraft landed safely, the passenger was removed, and the remaining passengers continued to Newark.
The investigation now shifts attention from the flight itself to the conduct that caused the diversion and the legal consequences that may follow.
The Baltimore diversion is over, but the investigation is still developing—share your thoughts in the comments and stay informed as confirmed updates emerge.