Man Restrained by Duct Tape on American Airlines Flight Claims He Doesn’t Remember Incident: ‘I Assaulted a Police Officer?’
Layne Arthur Lundeen was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault following a disruptive flight to Newark, N.J.
By Colson Thayer
Via People Magazine:
The plane passenger who was restrained with duct tape and zip ties on a flight earlier this month says he doesn’t remember the incident.
On Thursday, Sept. 3, American Airlines flight 618 was traveling from Dallas to Newark, N.J., crew members encountered a “disruptive customer” on board, the carrier previously said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Police subsequently arrested the individual at the facility, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE. His identity was later revealed as Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67.
According to the report, when authorities arrived they found Lundeen’s upper and lower body restrained to the seat via duct tape. His hands were also secured with zip ties. Lundeen was subsequently charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, according to court records.
During his initial appearance in Annapolis the following day on Friday, Sept. 4, Lundeen claimed he didn’t remember the alleged incident. “I don’t remember any of what happened,” he said, per an audio recording of the court proceeding obtained by the Baltimore Banner and released by the outlet on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
At the beginning of the hearing, district court commissioner George Haag advised Lundeen of the charges against him. “I assaulted a police officer? Is that what it says?” he asked in response. “I don’t have glasses.”
During the appearance, Lundeen did admit to consuming “two screwdrivers.” He later added: “Oh my God. What a mess … I don’t remember any of it.”
According to information gathered by police for the initial report, Lundeen “became increasingly unruly” on board. He allegedly shouted multiple profanities and racial slurs “including the N-word” before striking a female passenger in the arm.
Then, after police removed the duct tape and zip ties, Lundeen allegedly “struck” an officer in the chest.
According to the court audio recording, the last thing Lundeen remembered was speaking with fellow first-class passenger Jonathan Cahn, whom the New York Times called a “celebrity pastor” and “an entrepreneurial doomsday prophet” in a 2019 profile.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Cahn recalled the passenger remained “really friendly” for the first two hours of the flight. But when the conversation turned to religion and Cahn’s books — which focus on biblical prophecies, ancient mysteries, and prophetic warnings — Lundeen’s “face changes, and his expression changes, his voice changes, everything changes.”
Cahn claimed Lundeen went on to shout “vulgar things,” including antisemitic remarks at him. He further alleged Lundeen “put his hands around my neck, like he’s choking me.” However, those allegations were not included in the police report.
Cahn added the altercation lasted until two passengers seated two rows in front of them stepped in to intervene. The bystanders then restrained him with duct tape and zip ties, they told CBS News.
Following the incident, Lundeen’s employer, Long Realty in Tucson, Ariz., said it had “ended its affiliation” with him in a post on social media. He was previously listed as a vice president, broker and realtor with the firm.
Lundeen’s attorney, Anatoly Smolkin, declined to comment on the matter.
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