HONOLULU (AP) — A man who disrupted a Hawaiian Airlines flight so much the plane had to turn around and return to Honolulu last year instead of heading to New York must pay the airline nearly $100,000, a federal judge
HONOLULU (AP) — A man who disrupted a Hawaiian Airlines flight so much the plane had to turn around and return to Honolulu last year instead of heading to New York must pay the airline nearly $100,000, a federal judge ruled.
New Jersey resident James August was ordered Monday to pay restitution after he was sentenced to three months of probation in June.
He pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members and flight attendants in February.
August was accused of drunkenly threatening his girlfriend, her children, other passengers and crew members during the flight and slapping a flight attendant on her shoulder, according to an FBI affidavit.
The payment of $97,817 represents reimbursement of Hawaiian Airlines’ costs for turning the jet around — including fuel, maintenance, ground crew, replacement flight crew, landing fee and re-catering.
The restitution ordered by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway also includes what Hawaiian Airlines paid to find seats for passengers on other airlines.
