Home Portland Press Releases 2010 U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Criminal Complaint Against Salem Man in Hawaiian Airlines Incident
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Criminal Complaint Against Salem Man in Hawaiian Airlines Incident

U.S. Attorney’s Office January 08, 2010
  • District of Oregon (503) 727-1000

PORTLAND, OR—Acting U.S. Attorney, Kent S. Robinson, announced that a criminal complaint has been filed against Joseph Hedlund Johnson, 56, of Salem, Oregon charging him with the federal crime of interference with the performance and duties of a flight crew member or attendant. Johnson is expected to surrender to authorities on Monday, January 11, 2010 and is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Dennis J. Hubel at 1:30 in Courtroom 9B. The crime of interference with the performance and duties of a flight crew member or attendant carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The complaint and supporting affidavit allege that Johnson and a traveling companion boarded Hawaiian Airlines Flight 39 on the morning of January 6, 2010, destined for Kahului, Hawaii. It is alleged that Johnson, after boarding the flight, became upset because he was not allowed to place his bag under his seat. It is further alleged that a short time later, Johnson handed a comment card to a flight attendant, who then gave the comment card to the lead flight attendant. Government documents say the lead flight attendant then gave the comment card to the Captain of Hawaiian Airlines flight 39. It is alleged that portions of the note contain language that includes “I thought I was going to die,” “I hope we don’t crash and burn,” and “what if the plane ripped apart in mid-flight and we plumited (sic) to earth…” The Captain read the card and locked the flight deck as a precaution. He told investigators he felt threatened by the contents of the card, especially when he considered Johnson’s earlier suspicious behavior with his bag. After speaking with the flight crew about the incident, the Captain decided to declare an emergency and return the aircraft to Portland.

Acting U.S. Attorney Robinson stated, “The safety and security of airline travel is of paramount importance, particularly following the events of Christmas Day. Everyone who flies should know that the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Port of Portland, will take all necessary steps to assure that air travel is safe, and that standards of conduct for airline passengers are enforced. And everyone who flies should also know that communicating with a flight crew about crashing airplanes will not be viewed as a joke.”

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Port of Portland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamala Holsinger is handling the prosecution of this case.

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