UNHINGED Michael Jackson went into mid-air meltdown and tried to flee America as he flew home to be arrested and handcuffed.

The singer, sedated by doctors but gripped by panic at child sex charges, demanded to be flown to a South America bolt-hole.

Trembling and swaying, he ordered aides to change his plane’s flight path and spring him to a haven beyond the reach of US law.

But flunkies refused for fear that US air control would force the 87-TD private jet down for an emergency landing by knocking out its satellite navigation systems. And they insisted Jackson – accused of sex offences against 12-year-old cancer victim Gavin Arvizo – should give himself up.

Muttering to himself and screaming “it’s not fair”, Jackson spent the journey rocking backwards and forwards in his seat.

The star’s deranged antics on the jet from Las Vegas to California shocked even those used to his odd behavior.

At first he refused to board the plane taking him to Santa Barbara for a showdown with District Attorney Tom Sneddon. A witness said: “His people almost dragged him on in the end. He was shaking and in a state of near hysteria.”

Once aboard, father-of-three Jackson demanded the pilot change routes and take him and his children to South America. The witness said: “Jackson was adamant he was going to do a runner because he was so nervous. But his attorneys managed to talk him out of it. There was a lot of shouting. They told him the authorities would jam the guidance systems on the plane.

“They said the plane would be forced into an emergency landing.

“Even if he did succeed in leaving the country, he would be extradited back to the United States.

“Jacko was sitting in his chair rocking backwards and forwards chattering to himself with his head in his hands. He was a total basket case.”

The source went on: “A man in a suit, carrying a medical bag was walking alongside Jacko when he finally got on the plane. Then Jackson demanded that they have Kentucky Fried Chicken delivered to the plane before he would agree to take off.”

Jackson was put in his seat, flanked by two bodyguards. Then he was given an injection to calm him down.

“Even the sedatives didn’t help much,” said the source. “He repeatedly squealed, ‘Why, why, why are they doing this to me?’ He was totally agitated, sweating, his hair covering his face and he wrung his hands incessantly. He looked like he was doing the Moonwalk while sitting down”

Jackson was on board the plane with his children, Prince Michael, six, Paris, five, and toddler Prince Michael II.

Earlier, there had been more oddball antics as Jackson prepared to leave the Green Valley Ranch, a luxury Vegas resort where he had been staying while filming a new video.

The source said: “Jackson’s handlers noticed he was missing and when they went searching, they found him outside the private bungalow. When asked what he was doing, he said that he saw a field mouse and wanted to play with it, but was unable to find it.”

On Friday, Jackson returned to Vegas after being released on bail of £2million. On the flight back, Jackson was calmer and told the crew he was relieved he was not remanded in custody and didn’t have to go to jail. But he refused to communicate with the doctor who had sedated him on the outward journey.

The source said: “Jackson just sat there, rubbing his wrists where the handcuffs had been.”

Sunday Mirror