{"id":933642,"date":"2026-10-15T06:38:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T06:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/933642\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T06:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T06:38:32","slug":"hawaii-monk-seal-attack-suspect-blames-delta-for-lack-of-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/933642\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaii monk seal attack suspect blames Delta for lack of warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Washington state businessman accused of nearly crushing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal\u2019s skull<\/a> with a rock is using his airline\u2019s in-flight programming to fight federal charges, aiming to make passenger warnings central to his legal defense.<\/p>\n

Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 39, wants Delta Air Lines to turn over records of onboard videos, wildlife advisories and other passenger communications before his scheduled Nov. 16 trial, Newsweek<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

This driver\u2019s license photo provided by the U.S. District Court of Hawaii shows Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk. AP<\/p>\n

The legal gambit comes months after a May 5 encounter in Lahaina, Maui. Courtesy Kaylee Schnitzer<\/p>\n

His lawyers argue the material could shed light on what Lytvynchuk knew about Hawaii\u2019s protected animals<\/a> before he allegedly hurled the rock at the seal.<\/p>\n

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But prosecutors say they have no evidence Delta showed passengers an educational video about local wildlife.<\/p>\n

The legal gambit comes months after a May 5 encounter in Lahaina, Maui<\/a>, that landed Lytvynchuk in federal crosshairs.<\/p>\n

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen speaks out in support of Lani, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, following an incident where a man threw large rocks at the seal near the Lahaina burn zone in Maui, Hawaii. Instagram \/ @countyofmaui<\/p>\n

Video shows the businessman following a monk seal near the shoreline before throwing a large rock toward its head. The projectile reportedly missed the animal\u2019s nose, prompting the seal to rear out of the water.<\/p>\n

Witnesses confronted Lytvynchuk and told him they had contacted law enforcement. He allegedly responded that he was \u201crich enough to pay the fines\u201d before leaving the scene.<\/p>\n

Seattle tourist who was caught on camera tossing a huge rock at a beloved Hawaiian monk seal\u00a0was pummeled by an enraged man following the troubling incident Courtesy Kaylee Schnitzer<\/p>\n

His attorney, Myles Breiner, has pushed back against suggestions that his client intended to hurt the animal.<\/p>\n

Breiner previously told KHON-TV<\/a> News that Lytvynchuk was trying to frighten the animal away<\/a> from two turtles, known locally as honu.<\/p>\n

Sea and coast, Pacific Ocean on Maui, Hawaii. Photothek via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Now, the defense wants to examine what Delta may have communicated to Lytvynchuk during his April 28 flight from Seattle <\/a>to Maui.<\/p>\n

In an Oct. 7 court filing, his lawyers argued the requested records could provide evidence about his state of mind and potentially affect sentencing.<\/p>\n

A view shows a beach on Maui. Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Prosecutors said they were unaware of Delta airing anything comparable to Hawaiian Airlines\u2019 Travel Pono video<\/a>, according to the filing.<\/p>\n

Introduced in September 2021, the five-minute program educates passengers about ocean safety, wildlife conservation and responsible tourism.<\/p>\n

But Hawaiian Airlines\u2019 efforts do not establish what passengers aboard a competing carrier were told.<\/p>\n

The filing does not establish that Delta had a legal duty to provide one. ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n

Prosecutors also emphasized they were not claiming Delta showed such a video and noted the airline was not required to do so.<\/p>\n

Lytvynchuk\u2019s attorneys are seeking to postpone the trial to obtain the records, arguing that the absence of a warning could itself be relevant to the defense.<\/p>\n

The filing does not establish that Delta had a legal duty to provide such a warning \u2014 or that missing information would excuse the alleged conduct.<\/p>\n

Lytvynchuk was arrested near Seattle on May 13<\/a> by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agents and charged May 26 with violating the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.<\/p>\n

He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and faces up to one year in prison for each if convicted.<\/p>\n

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