Jooish

The American Airlines passenger whose alleged midair outburst became so uncontrollable that fellow travelers restrained him with duct tape and zip ties told a Maryland court that he had no memory of the episode — and appeared stunned as the allegations against him were read aloud.

Layne Lundeen, 67, made the claim during court proceedings in Annapolis, Maryland, following his arrest in connection with the incident, which forced the Newark-bound flight to divert to Baltimore.

“I don’t remember any of what happened,” Lundeen said, according to The Banner, which obtained audio of the proceeding.

As he attempted to understand the allegations against him, Lundeen appeared surprised to learn that he was accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer.

“I assaulted a police officer? Is that what it says?” he reportedly said. “I don’t have my glasses.”

District Court Commissioner George Haag then went through the accusations facing Lundeen, prompting another expression of disbelief from the Arizona man.

“Oh my God. What a mess. I don’t remember any of it.”

The charges followed a chaotic incident aboard an American Airlines flight during which Lundeen allegedly launched into a racist tirade and became so disruptive that other passengers intervened. He was ultimately restrained with duct tape and zip ties as the flight crew diverted the aircraft to Baltimore for an emergency landing.

During the court proceeding, Haag asked Lundeen why he had come to Maryland.

“What brings you to Maryland?” Haag asked.

Lundeen responded that Maryland had never been part of his travel plans.

“I came to New York City. I don’t know how I got to Maryland. I was supposed to land in New Jersey.”

Lundeen, a realtor from Arizona, had reportedly been traveling east to assist one of his daughters as she moved into a new apartment. The trip also coincided with her birthday.

The fallout from the incident extended beyond his arrest. Long Realty Company, the Tucson-based real estate firm where Lundeen worked, terminated his employment after footage and accounts of the episode circulated widely.

Referring to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding what was supposed to have been a family trip, Lundeen told the commissioner, “I got a double whammy for my trip. Well, now it’s a triple whammy.”

Near the end of the hearing, Lundeen appeared focused on figuring out how to resume his interrupted journey, asking Haag how far he was from New York City.

“That depends on mode of transportation and traffic,” the commissioner responded, “but at least a few hours.”

Authorities charged Lundeen with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.

Police said witnesses aboard the aircraft described Lundeen as having “became increasingly unruly” as the flight progressed.

Jonathan Cahn, a controversial author and Messianic rabbi who was seated beside Lundeen, previously provided his account of what he said triggered the dramatic change in his seatmate’s behavior.

According to Cahn, the two men initially had a friendly conversation, but the atmosphere abruptly changed after their discussion turned to spirituality. Lundeen reportedly told the court that his conversation with the passenger seated beside him was essentially the last thing he remembered before the incident.

“I have never seen someone change in a split second from light to dark as I saw then, as if something had taken him over,” Cahn previously said. “He went from the friendliest guy in the world to this dark person.”

Cahn said that during the conversation, he spoke about “the reality of the real power of god on Earth and in our lives.”

The disturbance escalated from there, according to witnesses, eventually requiring passengers to physically restrain Lundeen. Images and video showing him secured to his seat with duct tape and zip ties subsequently spread online.

Following the flight’s diversion, Lundeen was taken into custody shortly after the aircraft landed in Baltimore.

Despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the case, Lundeen was released on his own recognizance after his court appearance. As a condition of his release, he was instructed to refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs, with the exception of prescribed medications, according to The Banner.

Lundeen is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 19 in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County in Glen Burnie.