United Airlines passenger ordered to pay $50G for hitting flight attendant, forcing plane to divert to Alaska

Seksan Kumtong, of North Hollywood, appeared in court earlier this week, where he was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to reimburse United Airlines for expenses incurred during the diversion, which included the costs of meals and lodging for the rest of the flight’s displaced passengers and crew — expenses that totaled $49,793.

Prior to Tuesday’s sentencing, Kumtong had pleaded guilty to interfering with the flight crew during an arraignment in November, the Anchorage Daily News reported. During last February’s incident, Kumtong, 52, reportedly began acting up shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles, when a crew member observed him "banging on the airport bathroom doors." The flight attendant tried to direct Kumtong to a different restroom, at which point he attempted — but failed — to shove the crew member, according to an Anchorage Daily News article published last February.