A Japanese rock musician has died in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. Pacific possession, after he was arrested for unruly behavior on a flight to the commonwealth.

U.S. officials say rocker Taiji Sawada died Sunday at Saipan's Commonwealth Hospital while he was still under in detention. He was 45.

Officials did not say how he died.

They say he was taken to the hospital Thursday after appearing in court on charges he disrupted a flight from Tokyo to Saipan.

During the July 11 flight, the crew physically restrained Sawada after he became unruly. Officials did not give a reason for Sawada's behavior.

Sawada is best known as the former bass player in the popular heavy metal band X. He left the group in the early 90s and has since played in various other bands.