New Jersey resident James August was ordered to pay restitution on Monday after he was sentenced to three months of probation in June, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported ( http://bit.ly/2xMngH1 ). He pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members and flight attendants in February. He was arrested after the November Hawaiian Airlines flight returned to Honolulu. 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. The restitution ordered by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway also includes what Hawaiian Airlines paid to find seats for passengers on other airlines.

Source: ABC News August 30, 2017 17:42 UTC