A male airline passenger has been arrested following an alleged sexual assault onboard a Japan Airlines’ flight.
Michael Tanouve, an Hawaiian, has been charged with interfering with flight crew and aggravated sexual assault.
The Japan-bound flight was forced to turn back to Hawaii after the 29-year-old allegedly forced his way into the lavatory and sexually assaulted a female passenger.
The woman, who was returning to Japan from a holiday in Hawaii, pressed the emergency button and flight attendants tried to force open the door, but it was blocked by Tanouye.
The door was eventually opened after the screws were removed from the hinge, after which it allegedly took three passengers to subdue Tanouye, one of whom 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
