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New Jersey Man Ordered to Pay Airline Nearly $100,000 After Antics Force Flight Return to Honolulu

Authorities said he had threatened his girlfriend, her children, other passengers and crew members on the flight

A federal judge has ruled that a New Jersey man who disrupted a Hawaiian Airlines flight to the point where the plane had to turn back around to Honolulu must pay the airline nearly $100,000.

James August was ordered to pay restitution on Monday, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members and flight attendants in February and was sentenced earlier this summer to three months of probation.

Authorities said he had threatened his girlfriend, her children, other passengers and crew members on the flight.

August's $97,817 fine will repay the extra costs Hawaiian Airlines incurred for turning its plane around, including fuel, maintenance, ground crew, replacement flight crew, landing fee and re-catering.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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