Arizona Man Indicted for Assault on Airline Passenger

An Arizona man has been indicted in connection with an assault on an airline passenger that forced an emergency landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Layne Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, Arizona, faces charges of interfering with flight crew members and assaulting them by striking, beating, and wounding, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

The incident occurred on September 3, 2026, during a flight from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey. The altercation led to the plane making an unscheduled landing in Baltimore. The indictment alleges that Lundeen intimidated and physically contacted flight crew members, disregarded their instructions, and used abusive and aggressive language, including racial slurs.

Lundeen's behavior was reportedly disruptive and hostile, affecting not only the flight crew but also other passengers on board. The charges against him include interfering with flight crew members, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and assault by striking, beating, and wounding, which could result in up to one year in prison if convicted. However, actual sentences are typically less than the maximum penalties, as determined by a federal district court judge based on U.

S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The indictment was announced by U. S. Attorney Kelly O.

Hayes, along with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office and Colonel Nicholas Augustine of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, MDTA Police, U. S.

Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General.

U. S. Attorney Hayes commended the collaborative efforts of these agencies in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.

S. Attorney Ty Pittinger for prosecuting the case. It is important to note that an indictment is not a finding of guilt, and individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.