Seatmate of Man Who Was Duct-Taped on Flight Says He Was Put in a Chokehold amid Violent Outburst (Exclusive)

“He puts his hands around my neck, like he’s choking me,” author Jonathan Cahn tells PEOPLE of the Sept. 3 flight

NEED TO KNOW

• Author Jonathan Cahn was seated next to the man who was restrained using duct tape after an alleged outburst on a recent American Airlines flight
• Cahn claims his seatmate, Layne Arthur Lundeen, became violent after a conversation about faith and his new book
• Lundeen allegedly attacked multiple passengers and crew before being restrained
• He faces assault and disorderly conduct charges and has been fired by his Arizona real estate agency

The passenger seated next to an American Airlines customer who had to be restrained with duct tape on a recent flight is speaking out about the incident, describing the moment he claims he was placed in a chokehold by the man.

Author Jonathan Cahn, who identifies himself as a Messianic rabbi, tells PEOPLE he was traveling back home to New Jersey after a TV interview promoting his new book in Dallas. On Sept. 3, the 56-year-old says he was seated in the last row of first class on American Airlines flight 618 directly next to 67-year-old Arthur Layne Lundeen. 

“I couldn’t make any impression of anything that would have struck me as really odd or different,” says Cahn, whom the New York Times called a “celebrity pastor” and “an entrepreneurial doomsday prophet” in a 2019 profile. “We didn’t start talking until we were getting ready to fly.” 

Cahn says their initial conversation remained “really friendly” for the first two hours. When it came up that Cahn is an active minister, Lundeen allegedly “rejected that.” As Cahn went on to summarize his previous books — which focus on biblical prophecies, ancient mysteries, and prophetic warnings — he claims his seatmate’s “face changes, and his expressions change, his voice changes, everything changes.” 

“He looks at me like he’s whispering a secret for me to hear. He says, ‘Bulls—,’ ” Cahn alleges. “He said, ‘Go f— yourself.’ ”  

From there, Cahn says he attempted to go about his own business, but Lundeen allegedly began to curse, getting progressively louder and shouting “vulgar things.” That’s when a flight attendant came in to give him his first warning, Cahn says. 

Cahn recalls he went back to working on his computer. He had been having a technical issue with it after a black bar had appeared “in the middle of the screen” earlier in the week. He claims Lundeen touched it and the darkness spread over most of the display. That’s when things allegedly turned violent.

“He puts his hands around my neck, like he’s choking me,” Cahn alleges. “Now it wasn’t that I was choking, but it was like he was going through the motions of it, and pushing back and forth… And he’s laughing, laughing when he’s doing that.” 

After letting go, Cahn claims Lundeen spotted the cover of his new book, The Altar of Pergamon, in the corner of the screen and began “screaming” in response.

“He says, ‘What did you do?’ Like what did I do by writing the book… He says, ‘I’m going to punch your f—ing Jewish face in,’ ” Cahn claims. 

As the author attempts to get away, Cahn claims Lundeen “lunges” for his computer. An altercation reportedly ensued and Cahn says the tussle left him with an arm injury. 

At that point, Cahn recalls two male passengers seated two rows in front of them stood up to intervene. 

One of the passengers who stepped in, Juan Mejia, told CBS News, “All of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos.”

Richard Olenick, who was sat in the same row, alleged that the man “called one of the flight attendants the N word.”

Mejia and Olenick said they tried to intervene, but Lundeen allegedly attacked them as well. He was eventually restrained by being duct-taped to his seat with zip ties around his hands for 15 minutes as the plane landed, per CBS News and CNN.

“He bit my hand. He didn’t break skin, just left teeth marks on my hand. We were covered in his blood,” Mejia told CBS News. “He was bleeding quite a bit from cuts that he inflicted on himself.”

“People were shocked and people were stunned,” Cahn recalls of his fellow passengers and the flight crew. 

Cahn says the flight eventually made an emergency landing in Baltimore, where FBI and police boarded the plane to remove Lundeen. American Airlines confirmed authorities met the aircraft upon arrival and assisted with deplaning the customer. 

Maryland Transportation Authority Police told ABC News Lundeen “was cleared by paramedics for an open wound on his arm that was noticed by officers while being taken into custody.”

According to court records reviewed by PEOPLE, Lundeen currently faces Maryland state charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. The FBI confirmed it will continue to investigate the incident and determine if federal charges will be filed.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to Tucson, Ariz.’s Long Realty, where Lundeen was listed as vice president, broker and Realtor, the agency has “ended its affiliation” with him.