American Airlines passenger restrained with duct tape after outburst says he remembers "nothing"
A passenger who was duct-taped to his seat after a racist and homophobic outburst on a plane has stated that he remembers ’nothing’ about the incident.
Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67, was arrested after American Airlines flight 618 was forced to make an emergency landing earlier this month following reports of a disruptive passenger on board.
The flight was traveling from Dallas to Newark on September 3 when it was redirected to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Lundeen, a real estate agent, was subsequently fired from his job after he used the N-word against a member of the cabin crew.
According to a police report, officers found Lundeen with his upper and lower body restrained to his seat with duct tape, while his hands were secured with zip ties.
During his initial court appearance in Annapolis the following day, Lundeen said he could not remember what had happened.
’I don’t remember any of what happened,’ he said, according to audio of the hearing obtained by the Baltimore Banner.
At one point, a district court commissioner read out the charges against him, to which Lundeen asked: ’I assaulted a police officer? Is that what it says? I don’t have glasses.’
He admitted drinking ’two screwdrivers’ before later adding: ’Oh my God. What a mess… I don’t remember any of it.’
Police allege that Lundeen became increasingly unruly during the flight, shouting profanities and racial slurs before allegedly striking a female passenger in the arm.
After officers removed the duct tape and zip ties, he then allegedly struck an officer in the chest.
Lundeen has not publicly addressed those allegations beyond saying he does not remember the incident.
Lundeen’s attorney, Anatoly Smolkin, has declined to comment.
Technology & Business Editor
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