Molokai Man Pleads Guilty to Flight Interference and Assault of Attendant

HONOLULU – Steven Sloan, Jr., 33, of Molokai yesterday pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright to interfering with flight crew members and assaulting a flight attendant on a flight from Honolulu to Hilo on September 23, 2021. Chief Judge Seabright scheduled his sentencing for August 4, 2022.

According to court documents and information presented in court, on September 23, 2021, at approximately 7:30 am, Hawaiian Airlines Flight #152 was in the air from Honolulu to Hilo when the flight attendant victim of the assault moved from the front of the aircraft and proceeded toward the rear, collecting trash. When he approached row six, he collected trash from the left side of the aisle and when he turned his attention to the right side, Sloan punched the victim in the chest with a closed fist. The victim, who did not know Sloan, was shocked as the blow was unexpected.

The victim saw that Sloan was upset or agitated and attempted to cover his body and create space from Sloan. Sloan then struck the victim on the back left side of head. Fearing for his safety, the safety of the other two flight attendants as well as the other passengers, particularly the woman seated next to Sloan, the victim advised the other flight attendants to abandon their normal flight duties and to monitor the doors of the aircraft in the event Sloan went for the doors. The captain of the plane was advised of this and returned the flight to Honolulu.

When he is sentenced, Sloan faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for the charge of interference with flight crew members and attendants, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. The maximum penalties for the assault charge are one year imprisonment, a fine of $100,000, and a term of supervised release of one year.

“Crimes committed on an aircraft while in flight can imperil the safety of all those on board,” said United States Attorney Clare Connors. “This prosecution demonstrates the potential federal criminal consequences of assaulting a flight crew member.”

"The FBI takes these types of crimes seriously,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “The flight crew has a right to feel safe aboard an aircraft while also performing their duties. We encourage everyone to be aware of their surroundings on board an airplane and understand that the FBI will investigate these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and State of Hawaii Department of Public Safety - Sheriff Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching.