There's an old saying in sports that 'numbers don't lie.'
Well, here's a number that's not lying about what a drunken outburst aboard an airplane will cost you.
$172,000.
Kyong Chol Kim was sentenced this week to six months in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $172,000 after his drunken behavior aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight in February forced the plane to turn around and make an emergency landing back in Honolulu.
The flight was heading to South Korea.
The six-figure fine represents what it cost the airline to turn the flight around, land back in Honolulu, and start all over again.
According to prosecutors, the 48-year old Kim apparently drank an entire bottle of whiskey before boarding the flight and caused an uproar on the plane, including pestering a child seated next to him and lunging at a flight attendant.
Fortunately, in addition to the crew, there were several members of the United States military onboard who helped subdue Kim while the pilots turned back to Honolulu.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore