Federal Judge Orders James August To Pay Nearly $100,000

On a flight from Honolulu to New York on Hawaiian Airlines last November, passenger James August engaged in behaviour so disruptive that the pilot felt compelled to turn the plane around and return to Honolulu. August's behavior is not in dispute. He pleaded guilty in February to charges of interfering with a flight crew, and was sentenced to three years probation by U.S. District Senior Judge Susan Oki Mollway.

Now judge Mollway has ordered August to repay Hawaiian Airlines $97,817 ... the cost of returning the flight to Honolulu, according to a report from the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

On the flight, August, who lives in New Jersey, threatened his girlfriend and her children, other passengers and crewmembers, and even made contact with a flight attendant's shoulder with the back of his hand. The crew said his disruptive behavior started before the flight left the ground.

The restitution to the airline includes Hawaiian's costs for fuel, maintenance, ground crew, replacement flight crew, re-catering and landing fees. August also has to reimburse Hawaiian for what it paid to accommodate passengers on other airlines. He was not held accountable for $46,000 in meal vouchers the airline gave to both passengers traveling to New York, as well as passengers waiting in New York for their return flight to Honolulu.

FMI: Original Report