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The FBI in Los Angeles arrested a 20-year-old Maui man on Monday for interfering with a flight crew on a British Airways flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport.
Kevin Lee Mosele of Kihei was charged with one count of interference with a flight crew, a felony that carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison upon conviction. Mosele made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon.
He was freed on a $10,000 bond and ordered to appear for arraignment on Aug. 4.
An affidavit supporting the complaint alleged Mosele was disruptive and abusive to passengers and the flight crew and had to be physically restrained during the flight.
The complaint charged Mosele made a variety of threats, including a claim that he had a bomb on board, while restrained and that his actions required the captain of the aircraft to personally respond to assess Mosele’s actions throughout the flight.
According to a flight attendant’s interview in the affidavit, 10 minutes after the flight got underway, Mosele’s eyes were bloodshot and “he seemed to be intoxicated.” Flight attendants attempted to calm down Mosele for about 40 minutes before physically restraining him for the remainder of the flight.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Los Angeles.
