[SamAdams76]

"Only 4 hours away" is actually 8 hours plus for the other passengers on board. Most likely at least an hour or two more on the ground in between as the plane gets refueled and serviced.

This seems out of the ordinary for me. Wouldn't it make sense to detain the person in Tokyo so that the rest of the passengers could arrive at their destination on time?

Unless the circumstances warranted. Perhaps somebody high profile trying to flee the country?

[BenLurkin]

Sounds more like somebody with juice got on the wrong plane....and has enough juice to get it to take him or her back to L A.

[txhurl]

I wish it was Eric Holder.

[cynwoody]

This seems out of the ordinary for me. Wouldn't it make sense to detain the person in Tokyo so that the rest of the passengers could arrive at their destination on time?

The only circumstance I can imagine is that the authorities were not confident that the Japanese would return the individual in question. Still, even that does not justify inconveniencing a planeload of passengers.

[NonValueAdded]

Indeed. Had they no duct tape? No zip ties? Wrap ‘em, strap ‘em into a steward/ess’s jump seat for the duration of the flight. Thank you for flying Con Air.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

:: Perhaps somebody high profile trying to flee the country? ::

My thought, too.

The flight attendant noticed an ankle-bracelet and made a few state side inquiries?