Man Who Jumped Out Of Moving Plane With Girlfriend, Dog Says He Had Panic Attack

A Florida man who faces felony criminal mischief charges for jumping out of a moving plane in LaGuardia has claimed that he had a panic attack and asked the crew to let him out of the plane.

Antonio Murdock, 31, slid down the emergency slide from a moving airplane with his girlfriend Brianna Greco, 23, and her 60-pound greyhound service dog on Monday.

"I need to get off the plane. I don't want to sit here. I'm gonna pop the door. If I don't get off the plane, I'm gonna spazz out," Murdock reportedly told the crew while the Delta Airlines Flight 462 bound for Atlanta was preparing to take off, reported NY Daily News.

He later told the Port Authority police that the confined space in the airplane triggered his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and that he had a panic attack. He said he had anxiety issues, which he developed during his stint in prison when he was convicted of robbery charges.

Murdock was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday on charges of trespassing and reckless endangerment. He told the court that he had anxiety and depression.

"It was a panic attack," Murdock said as per the New York Post. "I asked them three or four times to let me off. They said they were stopping the plane and they never stopped the plane, and I got to the point where I was just feeling dizzy."

Brian Plummer, a fellow passenger, told the news outlet that he had noticed the couple changing seats several times before telling the flight attendant that he couldn't sit down because of PTSD.

"If I sit down, I'll freak out," Plummer quoted Murdock as saying.

According to the criminal complaint, the inflatable chute used by the couple to exit the plane costs more than $50,000 and cannot be reused once activated.

When asked about the damage he had done to the plane, Murdock said he had "no idea." "I didn't commit a crime. I have mental health issues," he explained.

Judge Toko Serita ordered Murdock's release without bail. The court also ordered protection to keep him away from the flight attendant.

In September, Murdock was accused of rushing at two police officers, ranting that someone was trying to kill him in his car. The police found out that he was "delusional" and found five ounces of marijuana in the vehicle.