The passenger of an American Airlines flight who burst into an offensive mid-air meltdown and had to be restrained with duct-tape has faced court in Maryland on Tuesday.
Layne Lundeen, 67, faced the Annapolis District Court on charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
He is said to have “became increasingly unruly” during a conversation with his seat-mate, author and controversial Massianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn.
The passengers were having a positive discussion for two hours in their first-class seats before the topic turned to religion and Lundeen began his aggressive tangent.
““It’s all bullshit. Jesus is bullshit,” Mr Lundeen allegedly proclaimed before launching into a tirade of profanities, racial slurs, and taunting other passengers.
“He was slurring everything and everybody,” Cahn said.
Mr Lundeen told the court, “I don’t remember any of what happened.”
When District Court Commissioner George Haag told Mr Lundeen he was accused of striking a police officer in the chest while being escorted off the plane, the defendant reinforced his lack of memory.
“I assaulted a police officer? Is that what it says?” he reportedly said. “I don’t have my glasses.”
He was then read the list of accusations against him.
“Oh my God. What a mess. I don’t remember any of it.”
Mr Lundeen was on his way to Newark to visit his daughter for her birthday, the court heard.
Instead, the flight had to be diverted to Maryland when Lundeen’s racist and homophobic tirade become severe enough for fellow passengers to restrain him to his chair with duct-tape.
Mr Lundeen lost his job as a real estate agent in Arizona in the wake of his viral meltdown, the company publicly condemning him for not upholding the values expected of his position.
At the closure of the hearing, Haag told Lundeen to abstain from alcohol and drugs whilst he awaits his trial on October 19.
Mr Lundeen did not have an attorney for his appearance in court and could not be reached for comment by local media outlets.
