NY Man Accused of Disrupting Flight Due in Houston Court

A 66-year-old passenger charged with interfering with a Continental Airlines flight attendant while the plane was en route to Houston is due in federal court this morning.

Federal agents on Wednesday arrested Noboru Akao, a Japanese citizen and U.S. permanent resident alien living in New York state, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Akao was held after he arrived from Honolulu, a news release from U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said.

Akao was apprehended after an on-board episode officials described as "disruptive" and "combative" behavior.

According to the criminal complaint, in the last 2 1/2 hours of the seven-hour flight Akao allegedly "groped" a female flight attendant, "trashed" an airplane restroom and had to be restrained with plastic handcuffs at the end of the flight to "prevent his increasingly aggressive behavior," the release said. Later, he was transferred to the custody of FBI agents.

Continental spokesman David Messing said Akao was among 105 passengers on the overnight flight, which arrived at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Messing said he didn't think any crew members sought medical care and did not know whether Akao had been served alcohol on the flight.

If indicted, Akao faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

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