Viral ‘duct-taped passenger’ tells court he can’t remember mid-air meltdown
A man was restrained on an American Airlines flight (Getty Images)
Court audio from the first appearance of Layne Lundeen, the Arizona realtor restrained with duct tape during a diverted American Airlines flight, captured him telling the court he cannot remember what happened.
Lundeen, 67, was taped to his seat on a flight from Dallas, Texas to Newark, New Jersey after an alleged mid-air outburst, which included homophobic remarks. In the audio, he said: “I don’t remember any of what happened.”
As the allegations were read out, Lundeen asked: “I assaulted a police officer? Is that what it says?” After putting on his glasses, he added: “Oh my God. What a mess. I don’t remember any of it.”
Passengers on the flight resorted to using zip ties and duct tape to restrain Lundy after he became violent and used racist and homophobic language, TMZ reported. The plane made an emergency landing at Baltimore airport, and Lundeen was arrested. He faces charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. A trial date is reportedly scheduled for 19 October.
Lundeen told the court he had been travelling to help one of his daughters move to a new apartment while also celebrating her birthday. “I came to New York City. I don’t know how I got to Maryland. I was supposed to land in New Jersey. I got a double whammy for my trip, now it’s a triple whammy,” he said.
What’s alleged to have happened on the flight
The alleged confrontation was described by rabbi and author Jonathan Cahn, who said he had been seated next to Lundeen. In comments about the incident, Cahn said a conversation about religion escalated, adding: “His face changed, his voice changed, and he said… almost in a whisper, he was like, ‘I have something to tell you,’ and he said, ‘Bulls***.’”
Cahn alleged Lundeen grabbed him by the throat, hit him and broke his laptop mid-flight. He also attributed a threat to Lundeen, saying he was told: “I’m gonna punch your f****** Jewish face in.”
Fallout after the video went viral
The incident spread widely online earlier this month, when passengers used duct tape and zip ties to restrain a man after he was alleged to have become violent and shouted about Jesus and hell.
Long Realty has since ended its relationship with Lundeen, with one account describing the move as ending its “affiliation” after “concerning criminal charges” emerged, in a report about the fallout.
