Passenger arrested for sex assault during Hawaii-Japan flight; plane returned to Honolulu

Published January 08, 2015

The FBI says a Japan Airlines flight had to return to Honolulu after a male passenger sexually assaulted a female passenger in the airplane's bathroom.

FBI agents arrested Michael Tanouye Saturday night at Honolulu International Airport for interfering with a flight crew and aggravated sexual assault aboard an aircraft. The 29-year-old Hilo man is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Tuesday.

According to an FBI affidavit, the flight was en route to Kansai International Airport when Tanouye forced his way into a bathroom and sexually assaulted a woman. Flight attendants and passengers told the FBI that a passenger was injured while struggling with Tanouye.

Tanouye's mother told a flight attendant he suffers from depression and was on medication.

After the incident, Tanouye took his medication and fell asleep.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/passenger-arrested-for-sex-assault-during-hawaii-japan-flight-plane-returned-to-honolulu