Ryanair passenger sentenced to pay 15,000 euros for forcing diversion of Dublin–Lanzarote flight after assaulting on board
A Dublin court holds the traveler responsible for the unscheduled landing in Porto (Portugal) and the airline reiterates its zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior
A Dublin court has ordered a Ryanair airline passenger to pay 15,000 euros in compensation after forcing the diversion of a flight that covered the route between the Irish capital and Lanzarote, after starring in a violent episode on board.
According to the airline's statement this Tuesday, the incident occurred when the passenger assaulted other travelers as well as crew members, which forced the captain to make the decision to divert the plane and make an emergency landing in the Portuguese city of Porto to ensure the safety of all occupants.
The airline stressed that this judicial resolution reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that passengers and crew can travel "in a comfortable environment, free from unnecessary disturbances," and recalled that it maintains a "zero tolerance" policy against any inappropriate conduct on board.
“Ryanair will continue to take firm measures to combat disruptive passenger behavior, for the benefit of the vast majority of travelers who do not disrupt flights,” the company said.
Likewise, the airline highlighted that this sentence "reinforces the serious consequences" faced by those who disrupt order on airplanes, including economic sanctions, forced disembarkation, and a future ban on flying.
The judicial ruling sets a new precedent in the fight against incidents involving disruptive passengers, a problem that airlines consider a priority to guarantee operational safety and normality in air transport.