Man accused of biting Hawaiian Airlines worker says he ‘blacked out’
BRUCE ASATO / FEB. 2012
A Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300 is seen at the Honolulu Airport.
A man who allegedly bit a Hawaiian Airlines worker on a flight to Honolulu from American Samoa told an FBI agent that he “might have been blacked out, out of my mind,” during the incident and that he is “a bad drunk.”
Aumoeualogo Togia is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants.
In a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in federal court, an FBI agent detailed what happened on Flight 466 that left Pago Pago Monday night and arrived in Honolulu at about 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The 35-year-old Togia told an FBI agent he had two beers before the flight and consumed multiple small bottles of alcohol.
The incident began at about 3 a.m. Hawaii time when the pilot locked down the cockpit because of a disturbance on the plane.
A Hawaiian Airlines cargo worker on the flight told authorities that Togia wasn’t complying with instructions to take his seat and that he smelled of alcohol.
After talking to Togia for about a half hour, the cargo worker said Togia punched a restroom door and threatened to kill the worker.
Another cargo worker and two other passengers then began restraining Togia, using tie straps for his hand and extra seat belts to strap him to a set.
Togia allegedly bit one of the cargo workers in the hand while they tried to tie him down.
Once restrained, Togia allegedly yelled that he wanted to kill the crew.
At about 9:25 a.m., after the flight landed, an FBI agent interviewed Togia in a holding cell at the airport.
Togia said he remembered talking story with the flight crew and said they “ambushed” him, so he fought back.
He said he didn’t think he had too much to drink, but later admitted he didn’t remember any details between talking with the crew members and being restrained.
He said he had no idea what happened or why he was in handcuffs.
If convicted, Togia faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
TOGIA Criminal Complaint by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd
25 responses to “Man accused of biting Hawaiian Airlines worker says he ‘blacked out’”
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Lock this damb a$$ up!
A person this inebriated should not be allowed to fly. He endangers all the passengers. I think we need more regulations. Low intellects are made worst with alcohol.
Send him back to his village and let his Chief take care of him. It won’t be pretty.
true!
The old, “Drunk don’t count” alibi. Go directly to jail!
AND KEEP ‘EM THERE FOR 20 YRS … coincidentally there is a “pen” next to Hawaiian Airline …
Don’t think that “blacked out” excuse would work in American Samoa.
Lucky he was blacked out. 🙂
Send him back to Samoa on a boat, and don’t allow him on a airplane for twenty years. We should not waste any more money on this loser.
Makes more sense than 20 years in prison.
I agree better than paying for him in prison and no more air travel.
The pilot locked down the cockpit? I thought the cockpit door was always locked to prevent another 9-11?
If there is a medical emergency in the cockpit immediate attention is required and another flight member will be required to become the second flight member in the cockpit. If the door is locked access to the cockpit will be difficult.
I always thought there were more than 2 people in the cockpit. If that’s the case, they should always keep the cockpit door locked.
Generally, my understanding is that most modern airliners have only two people (pilot and co-pilot) on the flight deck. The jetliners that still have a third person (flight engineer) are usually 747’s. But even that may no longer be true with the newer model 747’s. Also, I think that DC-10’s and L-1011’s also had a flight engineer, and maybe even early 707’s and DC-8’s. Perhaps other commenters with more familiarity and expertise can chime in here.
Send him back and let Samoa take care of him, take his rights away for coming into the United States forever.
Wow typical American just judge the Samoan like that..let’s see if u ack up on the plane then we send u back and ban u from america and Hawaiian kingdom. …everybody makes mistakes easy for everyone to go on social media and judge. good thing the sole no see your face..anyways he will pay for his actions. .no need reply I don’t care..
Blacked out, huh?
How convenient.
He’s not really going to prison for 20 years, but he is going to be on the NO FLY LIST for life. His life is ruined.
must have been a big sole
Is there such a thing as a “good drunk?”
Get on your hands and knees, plead guilty and hopefully the judge goes easy on you.
Free room and board for him, drain on taxpayer dollars. Yay America!
Blacked out! What kind of defense is that supposed to be?
Lame?