A man who disrupted a United Airlines flight has been spared jail time, but faces a hefty fine for verbally and physically assaulting a flight attendant on a flight to Tokyo.
Man Faces Hefty Fine For Assaulting Flight Attendant On United Airlines Flight To Tokyo
The incident took place on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo in February 2020. Shortly after takeoff, flight attendants observed Seksan Kumtong, a Los Angeles resident, banging on the door of a lavatory. A flight attendant directed him to another lavatory and he responded by lunging at the flight attendant (but missed).
He took his seat again and fell asleep. When he woke up, he demanded more cocktails. When refused, he began swearing then lunged at a flight attendant, struck the flight attendant, then attempted to tackle the flight attendant. He also added, “I will kill you.”
The flight diverted to Alaska, where United accrued $49,793 in fees including food plus lodging for the other passengers onboard. It isn’t clear if that amount takes into account fuel, landing fees, and additional labor expenses.
Kumtong pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew during his arraignment in November. Although he faced prison time, his attorney argued that he should not be placed in prison because he is at high-risk for COVID -19 (he suffers from diabetes).
His attorney called this an “explanation” not an “excuse” and an Alaskan judge bought the story. While he has been spared jail time, he will face probation and be forced to pay United back the nearly $50,000.
CONCLUSION
Seems to me that Kumtong gets off way too easily, but $50,000 is still more than a slap on the wrist. While not mentioned, I hope he is also permanently banned from United.
Was the punishment too little, too much, or just right?
(H/T: View From The Wing)
You never ask a navy man if he’ll have another drink because it’s nobody’s goddamn business how many drinks he’s had already, right?
It’s everybody’s business if he’s a drunk SOB and causing trouble,
You posted an article a few weeks ago that stated the FAA will implement ZERO tolerance for bad actors on domestic air travel. Can’t wait for that to happen.
I sure hope it happens. Let’s see.
He should have gone to jail. There is no excuse for assault. I wouldn’t lock him up and throw away the key, I think there’s hope for rehabilitation. But I do want him to go for some time, and pay the fine. He needs it, and it’s proper justice for the victim.
The flight attendants should sue the guy. Don’t let him off so easily! What a Shame! Diabetic and asked for cocktails…!!!
United was too lenisnt…
Where is the fine? He apparently only paid the cost of United?
I think he got off the hook too easy.
He got off too easy. Should serve some jail time and flight attendant should receive compensation plus a fine in addition to United costs
Not enough details about the flight but wondering why the plane could not just land in Alaska, dump the moron and take off again. Getting everyone out and into a hotel seems way too much.
My guess is probably crew timing out. It’s around 5.5 flight time just from LA-Anchorage. The continuation from Anchorage would have been in the 7.5 hour range. No idea if they were already past Anchorage and had to circle back. That would take time as well. The time it takes to get the passenger offloaded, refuel the plane, file a new flight plan, everything leading up to take off takes a lot of time. It’s not as simple as just landing, dumping the guy on the runway and taking off again :).
I worked for 40 years as a flight attendant. I was hit by passengers 3 times. My arms were bruised, changing from purple to orange for few weeks. When it was a right one I had trouble with eating. My family could not believe that can happen on the airplane. Nobody was ever charged with battery. Nobody was prosecuted not even mentioned. Those were the times of abuses on mostly women dominated profession. I hope the new generations of these safety professionals are going to work in better conditions. And be assured that the criminal actions in the air are going to be treated like the same ones on the ground.
Yeah. My thoughts exactly
Criminal offenses can occur anywhere. As more and more people fly, we can expect more criminal offenses to occur in-flight. The internet also makes spreading news of such offenses much easier.
Every unruly passenger is trying to live up to the legend of Gerry Finneran.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/10/29/coffee-tea-or/a610cd4d-b85a-4dd3-aeb9-4fa95b6daceb/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/480539-october-20-ua-10-year-anniversary-gerard-finneran.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/03/classified/paid-notice-deaths-finneran-gerard-buckley-jerry.html
Disruptive airline passengers are forced to pay for the costs of their actions, but what about disruptive actors in other realms, particularly driving?
David Letterman on the incident:
Top Ten “Gerard Finneran Excuses”
As presented on the 10/27/95 broadcast of LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN
10. Misread brochure about advantages of first class
9. Confused when steward asked for headset deposit
8. Went nuts after learning they were out of chicken almondine
7. Though he heard somebody yell, “We’re going to crash!” and that was just something he always wanted to do before he died
6. Hoping to impress aloof blonde English woman in 2-D
5. Had already used airphone to call everyone he knew
4. You try drinking for 14 hours and see if you can tell the difference between a food cart and a bathroom
3. All part of an elaborate plan to intimidate the real killers
2. His … wouldn’t fit in the overhead compartment
1. “Oh, like you’ve never done it”
I was a flight attendant for almost 44 years. Started in early 70s with Allegheny Airlines. I had a woman slap me across the face one night I think we were running late she was with her husband he grabbed her hands right after she hit me. The pilots talked me out of it so we can get your overnight on time. I regret not turning her into this day. It wasn’t right.
So he avoided jail via the argument that he had diabetes during COVID. So why can’t he enjoy his jail time when after COVID? The sentence must be served and should have been deferred, Mr. Judge,
Must be terrifying to be in a closed space ,flying and being assaulted by someone whose erratic behavior is out of control.These airline incidents need to be taken with greater seriousness
Jail time is called for in this case and sends a message to others about no tolerance for violence.
I think unruly passengers should be banned for life not only from the airline they were flying when the incident occurred, but from all American carriers. Send a message that if you act like a jerk while on a plane, you’re going to be taking the train or a bus from now on.
I was captain on a 767 from Rio to JFK when a drunken dentist attacked a flight attendant over Brazil. I went back, (we were allowed to do so then) and with the help of the resting FO-b was able to wrestle the passenger to the rear galley floor and handcuff him. I diverted to San Juan and had the police remove him. The flight attendant was taken to hospital with a broken neck. The dentist was in jail for more than a year.
Guy should have been dumped out the hatch in flight. People like this a hole and this judge are examples of what is wrong with our society. And who cares if this rat gets covid 19; i should hope he gets it and dies from it….Does anyone not believe that this guy has been and will always be a pain in the ass to law abiding citizens?
Just paying the expenses of what he caused is no fine. It should have included something like triple damages, and jail time. How about all the other inconveniences laid on the other pax. Late meetings, costly reschedules??
Guy should be in the slammer and this event and an equitable punishment should be widely publicized.
I agree with you, the 50 thousand just covered United’s loss (plus hotel). In all fairness he should’ve been made to pay each of the other passengers and if he refused let him sit in jail for a year. When so many people have been jailed simply for not having the money to pay fines this guy got off lucky. I wonder if he’s banned just from United or any carrier, he should be, the man put everyone at risk.
Stupid judge to be sucked into the Covid trap by the lawyer
What a lame excuse by lawyer, seems COVID 19 has become an way out rather than a disturbed childhood.
Every time I read a story like this I feel a huge sense of relief that I will NEVER fly on a commercial airline again. Usually it’s the airlines themselves to blame for the abuse (ask Dr. Dau!), but sometimes, as in this case, the customers. To those of you that work in this dying business … find something else to do that might be socially USEFUL this time. 🙂
Some years ago I saw a man deliberately trip a female flight attendant who was carrying a food tray. The food flew all over the area (I ducked). The flight attendant was furious, but the man acted as if he didn’t know what happened.
What’s his ethnicity?
Sounds like there was no penalty directly for this aggravated felonious assault. That is a dammed poor policy – on an airplane or off.
excellent articles,I love his perspective
As long as the consequences and punishments are lenient, the industry will continue to have a major problem with unruly and poorly behaving passengers.