What happens to a Realtor duct-taped to airplane seat after the plane lands, you ask…

BS BULLETIN:

Arizona real estate broker Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67, was restrained with zip ties and duct tape after passengers say he became belligerent and physically aggressive aboard an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Newark.
The flight diverted to Baltimore, where Lundeen was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The FBI has also been reviewing whether federal charges are warranted.
Now there’s a workplace consequence: Tucson-based Long Realty ended its affiliation with Lundeen, saying the alleged behavior was incompatible with the company’s standards.

Getting duct-taped to your airplane seat was apparently not the end of Layne Lundeen’s very bad trip.

The 67-year-old Tucson real estate broker has lost his affiliation with Long Realty after an extraordinary confrontation aboard American Airlines Flight 618 ended with other passengers restraining him with zip ties and duct tape.

The Sept. 3 flight was headed from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark when witnesses say Lundeen became increasingly agitated roughly two hours into the trip.

Richard O’Lenick, one of the passengers who intervened, told the Arizona Republic that Lundeen was angry and belligerent and used vulgar language that included racial slurs and anti-gay remarks. Flight attendants initially attempted to calm him, according to O’Lenick.

Then things allegedly became physical.

O’Lenick said a woman saw Lundeen put his hands on his seatmate’s throat and intervened. O’Lenick and Juan Mejia, a former police officer traveling with him, then moved in to restrain Lundeen.

O’Lenick said Lundeen bit Mejia and attempted to bite him as well.

Flight attendants supplied zip-tie restraints. When Lundeen allegedly continued struggling and trying to bite people, duct tape entered the equation.

Photos of the result quickly went viral: Lundeen secured to his window seat for the remainder of the diverted flight.

American Airlines confirmed that Flight 618 diverted to Baltimore/Washington International because of a “disruptive” passenger. Police arrested Lundeen after the plane landed.

He was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, and was released on his own recognizance. His trial is currently scheduled for Oct. 19. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Then came another consequence.

Long Realty announced that it had ended its affiliation with Lundeen.

“The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity,” the company said, adding that the reported conduct was inconsistent with its expectations of “professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others.”

Arizona Department of Real Estate records show Lundeen’s relationship with the brokerage ended Sept. 5. He had been associated with Long Realty since 2013 and has held an Arizona real estate broker’s license since 2001.