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No more charges for American Samoa man in ruckus

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PAGO PAGO, American Samoa >> A man accused of causing a ruckus on a flight from Honolulu to American Samoa last week won’t face additional charges.

Duke Ueli Viena is charged with misdemeanor public peace disturbance in the local court system in the American territory.

Officials say he was drunk and hurled racial slurs at the flight crew after demanding drinks while the plane was being boarded in Honolulu Dec. 12. The uproar continued after the flight took off, and the Hawaiian Airlines flight crew almost turned the plane around.

Passengers including Samoan chiefs calmed the man, and the flight continued to Pago Pago, where he was arrested.

Federal and territorial officials declined to file additional charges. Viena has been released on his own recognizance on the disturbance charge and has a Jan. 8 court date.

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