PASSENGER ARRESTED IN HAWAII-JAPAN FLIGHT ASSAULT

PFMLIT AIRPLANE, AIRPLANE PASSENGER, General, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS COMMITTING RANDOM SEX CRIMES, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF TRUST

Association Press/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher
10/14/14

A Japan Airlines flight had to return to Honolulu after a 29 year old passenger,Michael Tanouye, sexually assaulted a female passenger in the airplane's bathroom.  Tanouyewas arrested for interfering with a flight crew and aggravated sexual assault aboard anaircraft.  The flight was en route to Kasai International Airport when Tanouye forced his wayinto a bathroom and sexually assault a woman.  The woman, who was returning home to Japan withher mother after a four-day vacation in Hawaii, went to use the restroom about an hour and 45minutes after takeoff.  Tanouye forced his way inside, grabbed her by the shoulders and beganto forcefully pull down her pants and underwear.  He also began to take down his pants andunderwear, exposing his penis.
(Honolulu, Hawaii)