A MAN was arrested on the charge of interference with a flight attendant on a July 11 flight.
Taiji Sawada was brought to the U.S. District Court for the NMI for his initial appearance yesterday afternoon.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Benedetto, who represented the federal government, moved for a detention hearing today.
Mark Hanson is the court-appointed defense attorney.
Visiting federal Judge William Q. Hayes remanded Sawada to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after the hearing.
In her affidavit of probable cause, Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Mary H. Goff told the court that prior to the incident, Sawada was in the business class cabin of Delta Flight 298.
A flight attendant said she heard loud noises and banging coming from the business class cabin, where she saw Sawada and a female passenger struggling.
The passenger had her arms wrapped around Sawada who was kicking and yelling, and was throwing his body against the window.
The plane was already descending in preparation for landing within 10 minutes.
Two other passengers helped in physically restraining Sawada.
The captain was notified and Sawada was moved to a different seat. Five passengers had to be moved.
Two passengers sat next to Sawada to watch him.
He later became angry with another passenger, and started punching the window and kicking the seat in front of him.
The flight attendant said Sawada kicked her several times.
After Sawada was physically restrained, he continued to kick and bang his head on the seat.
No other details about the case were available.
http://www.mvariety.com/2011071338456/local-news/unruly-plane-passenger-arrested.php