Passenger who disrupted flight to Seattle charged with federal crimes, fined $52K by FAA

SEATTLE - A passenger who disrupted a flight from Hawaii to Seattle last December has been charged on a federal level and has been fined $52,000 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 21-year-old Ryan Cajimat was on a flight from Honolulu to Seattle on Dec. 20, 2020 when two hours before landing, he attempted to open the cockpit door. 

When flight attendants attempted to restrain him, he struggled with them and punched one attendant in the face twice. 

Once he was able to be restrained, he was restrained for the whole flight and was removed from the plane when it arrived in Seattle. 

Cajimat is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants and assault within a special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. 

Interference is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assault on an aircraft is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Delta Airlines also banned him from further travel on that airline.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the $52,000 fine is record-setting for the FAA. 

Cajimat is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Nov. 18. 

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