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– The passenger who reportedly slid down the emergency exit slide out of a moving Delta Air Lines plane explained his side of the story at a hearing on Tuesday. Antonio Murdock, 31, said he was worried he would lose control if he didn’t get off the Atlanta flight on Monday, CNN reports. While taxiing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, he and his companion Brianna Greco, 23, and their 60-pound service dog reportedly opened the cabin door and deployed the inflatable slide. The Florida couple were arrested and charged with a criminal offense; Murdock is also charged with criminal mischief and reckless danger. Murdock and Grego got their Greyhound back on Wednesday morning from an animal shelter in Brooklyn, the New York Post reports.
“I panicked. I have panic attacks. That’s it. I haven’t hurt anyone,” Murdock told reporters as he left the hearing. ‘I have psychological problems. … I asked them three or four times to release me. They said they stopped the plane and they never stopped the plane, and I got to the point where I just felt dizzy. ‘ A fellow passenger who agreed at the gate to change seats with the couple so they could house their dog said Murdock seemed “gentle” and the couple were pleasant. When the commotion started as the couple tried to switch seats again and reportedly declined requests to sit, he says, “I really remember thinking, ‘Well, you guys just asked me to change rows because you in the back, and now you suddenly decided you wanted to be ahead. ” (Witnesses heard Murdock say he has PTSD.)