William Clark Turner, Interference with Flight Attendant, Hawaii 2016

A federal jury in Honolulu has delivered a guilty verdict against Texas physician William Clark Turner, 53, for interfering with a flight attendant on a flight from Dallas to Maui in 2016. Turner’s conviction follows a four-day trial, with sentencing scheduled for June 5, 2017, before Senior District Judge Susan Oki Mollway.

The investigation into Turner’s actions revealed that on March 14, 2016, he was flying on American Airlines from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport non-stop to Maui. During the flight, Turner became threatening and verbally abusive toward other passengers, diverting a flight attendant from her normal duties to manage the situation.

When Turner’s actions were communicated to the pilot, he placed the cockpit in lockdown, locking the doors for the duration of the flight so that no one could enter or exit the cockpit. The jury found Turner guilty of one count of interference with a flight attendant, a charge that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Turner was also found not guilty of two counts of simple assault. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Nammar and Jill Otake.

Turner’s actions on the flight caused a significant disruption to the safety and comfort of the other passengers. The guilty verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the authority and duties of flight attendants and other airline staff.

In a statement, Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney, said, ‘As this case demonstrates, we will not tolerate behavior that endangers the safety and well-being of airline passengers and crew members.’

The case highlights the need for passengers to respect the rules and regulations in place to ensure the safety and security of all individuals on board an aircraft.

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