Drunken meltdown costs flyer nearly USD100,000
A drunken tirade on a Hawaiian Airlines flight has earned a passenger a hefty penalty.
A federal judge has ordered New Jersey resident James August to pay nearly $100,000 after the flight was forced to turn back to Honololu last year.
He pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members during the flight to New York and was given three months of probation in June.
The judge ruled August must pay costs of $97,817 to the airline for costs incurred in turning the jet around including refueling, a replacement flight crew, and airport fees.
August was accused of threatening his girlfriend and her children, along other passengers during the November 29 flight.
The court heard he had consumed alcohol before and during the flight.
In the original court hearing August maintained he had no recollection of the incident but didn’t dispute the charges.
He also struck a flight attendant according to a FBI statement.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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