A Hawaiian woman has been ordered to pay nearly $40,000 in restitution to American Airlines after authorities say she threatened staff and fellow passengers onboard and forced a flight to Hawaii to return to Phoenix.
According to a press release from the United States District Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Tuesday, United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich ordered 29-year-old Cayla Farris to pay $38,952 in restitution to American Airlines for delay-related costs due to her actions.
In addition, the allegedly unruly passenger was given a time-served sentence of three and a half months, plus three months of supervised probation.
During her term of supervised release, Farris will not be permitted to travel by commercial aircraft without prior approval.
On September 12, Farris pleaded guilty to Interference with a Flight Crew Member.
Authorities said that the Hawaiian native boarded an American Airlines flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Honolulu, Hawaii on February 13, 2022.
During the flight, Farris allegedly used profanity and threatened the flight crew and passengers onboard.
Due to her uncontrollable behavior, the flight crew was unable to continue their duties.
The captain ultimately decided to turn the plane back to Phoenix.
The disturbance also caused several flights to be re-routed to Hawaii.
The FBI and the Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case.
Originally published as American Airlines passenger ordered to pay a massive $US38,952 after allegedly threatening crew on a Hawaii-bound flight, forcing it to be diverted