American Airlines passenger who allegedly said racist slurs on flight diverted to BWI faces federal charges

An American Airlines passenger who caused a flight to divert to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport after police say he spewed racial slurs and profanity has been indicted on federal charges.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Aslan on Tuesday released Layne Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, Arizona, on personal recognizance at his initial appearance, according to court records. He’s charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants and assault by striking, beating and wounding.

Federal prosecutors allege Lundeen interfered with flight attendants’ and crew members’ work by intimidating them, including making physical contact; hurling racial slurs and other abusive and aggressive language; and disregarding instructions.

Interfering with flight crew members and attendants carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while the assault charges he faces can lead to one year of incarceration.

Lundeen’s attorney, Anatoly Smolkin, declined comment.

Passengers duct-taped Lundeen to his seat and restrained him with zip ties on Sept. 3 during a flight from Dallas to Newark, New Jersey, that was diverted to BWI, Maryland Transportation Authority Police reported.

Police took Lundeen into custody at BWI and say that he hit one of them in the chest. Witnesses told investigators that he became “increasingly unruly,” woke up a sleeping passenger and asked another if she loved Jesus.

Lundeen was initially charged in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

At his initial appearance, Lundeen told a district court commissioner that he drank two screwdrivers and didn’t remember what happened. He said he was flying to New Jersey to help one of his daughters move into a new apartment.

“I came to New York City. I don’t know how I got to Maryland,” Lundeen said. “I was supposed to land in New Jersey.”