An Arizona real estate agent who was restrained with duct tape in his first-class seat after an alleged outburst aboard an American Airlines flight was cautioned at his initial court hearing that missing his next appearance could bring a “rude awakening.”
Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, was taken off the Dallas-to-Newark flight on September 3 after allegedly launching into a tirade that included racial slurs and homophobic remarks.
Photos from inside the aircraft showed Lundeen secured to his seat with duct tape. The flight was diverted to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where police arrested him after the emergency landing.
Maryland court records reviewed by Our News Outlet show that Lundeen faces misdemeanor charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct stemming from the alleged incident.
Authorities could seek to extradite the Arizona realtor if he fails to appear for his next hearing, scheduled for October 19.
“If you miss court, you’re going to have a rude awakening,” Anne Arundel County District Court Commissioner George Haag told Lundeen during a September 4 hearing, Tucson.com reported.
Audio obtained by the outlet and released Monday captured Lundeen appearing stunned as the allegations surrounding his behavior in the air were read aloud in Anne Arundel County District Court.
“What a mess,” Lundeen said. “I don’t remember any of it.”
Arizona realtor Layne Lundeen, 67, was restrained with duct tape after he allegedly launched into a tirade containing racial and homophobic slurs earlier this month
Lundeen, who worked for Long Realty in Arizona, told the court that he had consumed two cocktails made with vodka and orange juice
Haag was reviewing the statement of probable cause with Lundeen as part of the proceedings, according to the outlet.
Lundeen said he had consumed two vodka-and-orange-juice drinks, commonly known as screwdrivers, before the alleged outburst.
He told the court that he did not remember the plane landing in Maryland and was confused to find himself there, the outlet reported.
Lundeen also explained that he had been traveling to New York City to help his daughter move into a new apartment.
“I’m at a loss,” Lundeen said, according to the outlet.
Haag said the probable cause statement alleged that Lundeen struck a law enforcement officer after being removed from the plane.
The commissioner added that officers had shown restraint by not charging him with assaulting an officer, saying they had been “nice” to the disruptive passenger.
Lundeen is due back at Anne Arundel County District Court in Maryland on October 19, when his trial is scheduled to begin
Lundeen faces second-degree assault and disorderly conduct charges following the alleged confrontation aboard the American Airlines flight (Picture of an American Airlines plane)
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Haag released Lundeen on his own recognizance, noting that he had no prior criminal record.
Haag said he would ‘take a gamble’ that Lundeen would return to court.
His trial is scheduled to begin on the afternoon of October 19, according to Maryland court records.
Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, who was sitting next to Lundeen when the now-viral outburst happened, previously told Our News Outlet after the incident that he and the realtor were talking about their religious beliefs before the conversation took a turn.
Cahn, who is known for linking biblical prophecy to contemporary events, said Lundeen became enraged in a ‘split second’ and began cursing at him.
He alleged Lundeen grabbed him by the throat, hit him and broke his laptop while they were in the air.
‘I was trying to help him,’ Cahn told Our News Outlet. ‘I was trying to encourage him and say Jesus had trouble with religious hypocrites.’
Cahn claimed Lundeen ‘turned’ when the rabbi started speaking about his own experiences with God.
‘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 claimed.
Lundeen was arrested at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (pictured) after his tirade forced the plane he was traveling on to make an emergency landing
Cahn claimed that Lundeen told him, ‘I’m gonna punch your f***** Jewish face in.’
Lundeen also allegedly beat his chest and abdomen as though he was ‘trying to start a fight,’ the rabbi previously claimed to Our News Outlet.
Eyewitnesses claimed that Lundeen called a black flight attendant who tried to defuse the situation the ‘n-word,’ TMZ reported.
It took three male passengers, as well as help from flight attendants, to unconventionally restrain Lundeen with the duct tape, per the outlet.
Cahn told Our News Outlet that he had not ‘specifically’ heard Lundeen’s comments.
Lundeen, who worked for Long Realty in Arizona, was fired by his company after the incident, according to KVOA.
Anatoly Smolkin, Lundeen’s attorney, told Our News Outlet on Tuesday afternoon that he was currently unable to comment on the case.
The Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Office, which is prosecuting the case, also told Our News Outlet that it could not comment on pending cases.
