I agree. This is way excessive. The duct taping was sadistic torture. They did this to him because he is white. A black guy and a Hispanic guy tied him up.
Excessive? Many prefer not to fly, but, when they do they prefer to NOT have their seatmates try to strangle or bite ...
Here’s an overview, from AI ...
The sequence described by witnesses is Arthur (Layne) Lundeen became violent (grabbing a seatmate’s throat, striking others).
Other passengers, including Juan Mejia and Richard O’Lenick, moved in to hold him.
During that physical struggle he bit Mejia.
Multiple passenger accounts say Lundeen bit Mejia on the hand during the struggle to restrain him.
A flight attendant then provided zip ties.
He kept fighting and trying to bite, so they used duct tape on his body.
He continued trying to bite/head-butt, so they added tape around his head (leaving his mouth uncovered so he could breathe).