MAN MUST PAY $97,000 BECAUSE THEY TURNED THE PLANE AROUND

What does it cost to act like a drunken jerk on an airplane? A man who disrupted a Hawaiian Airlines flight so much that the plane had to turn around and return to Honolulu last year instead of heading to New York must pay the airline $97,817, a federal judge ruled. James August was ordered to pay restitution on Monday in addition to serving three months of probation. August was accused of drunkenly threatening his girlfriend, her children, other passengers, and crew members during the flight and slapping a flight attendant on her shoulder. August said he did not remember what happened. The payment of $97,817 represents reimbursement of Hawaiian Airlines’ costs for turning the jet around – including fuel, maintenance, ground crew, replacement flight crew, landing fee and re-catering.
* Notice the passengers don’t get any compensation for their lost time and extra expense.
* I say countersue. They should have cut him off.
* “Next time, just throw me out the emergency exit.”
* To rub it in, the airline slapped him with a $25 “Fine Handling Fee” on top of the $97,000.
* And that’s just Hawaiian Airlines. Imagine what an airline like United – who hates their customers – would charge you.