Molokai man pleads guilty to assaulting crew member on Hilo-bound flight
HONOLULU — Steven Sloan Jr., 33, of Molokai on Thursday pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members and assaulting a flight attendant on a flight from Honolulu to Hilo on Sept. 23, 2021.
Chief U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright scheduled Sloan’s sentencing for Aug. 4.
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According to court documents and information presented in court, at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the day of the incident, Hawaiian Airlines Flight No. 152 was in the air from Honolulu to Hilo when the flight attendant victim of the assault moved from the front of the aircraft and proceeded toward the rear, collecting trash.
When he approached row six, he collected trash from the left side of the aisle, and when he turned his attention to the right side, Sloan punched the victim in the chest with a closed fist. The victim, who did not know Sloan, was shocked as the blow was unexpected.
Sloan appeared upset or agitated and the victim attempted to cover his body and create space from Sloan.
Sloan then struck the victim on the back left side of head.
Fearing for his safety, the safety of the other two flight attendants, as well as the other passengers — particularly the woman seated next to Sloan — the victim advised the other flight attendants to abandon their normal flight duties and to monitor the doors of the aircraft in the event Sloan went for the doors.
The captain of the plane was advised of this and returned the flight to Honolulu.
Sloan faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for the charge of interference with flight crew members and attendants, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years.
The maximum penalties for the assault charge are one year imprisonment, a fine of $100,000, and a term of supervised release of one year.
“Crimes committed on an aircraft while in flight can imperil the safety of all those on board,” said U.S. Attorney Clare Connors. “This prosecution demonstrates the potential federal criminal consequences of assaulting a flight crew member.”
“The FBI takes these types of crimes seriously,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “The flight crew has a right to feel safe aboard an aircraft while also performing their duties. We encourage everyone to be aware of their surroundings on board an airplane and understand that the FBI will investigate these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
