A Hawaiian man has been arrested on federal charges of interfering with a flight crew and aggravated sexual assault aboard a Japan Airlines flight from Honolulu.
The Japan-bound flight was forced to turn back to Hawaii where US passenger Michael Tanouye was arrested by FBI agents.
The 29-year-old Hawaiian is alleged to have forced his way into a bathroom and sexually assaulted a female passenger.
The woman, who was returning to Japan from a Hawaii vacation, managed to press the bathroom’s emergency button.
"Flight attendants and other passengers tried to open the lavatory door but were unable because Tanouye was blocking the door", FBI Special Agent Necosie Wilson said in an affidavit.
The door was eventually opened after removing screws from the door hinge.
The FBI was told it took three passengers to subdue Tanouye, one of which was injured in the struggle.
Earlier in the flight, Tanouye’s mother told a flight attendant he suffers from depression and is on medication, and it was agreed not to serve him alcohol.
During a short hearing in a federal court yesterday, assistant US attorney Larry Butrick told judge Kevin Chang there are additional charges and ‘mental health issues at play.’
Tanouye is being held without bail at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center.
