Ryanair has said it is taking legal action against a disruptive passenger.
In what it described as a “major misconduct clampdown”, the airline said it is seeking €15,000 (£12,500) in damages from a passenger in Ireland, whose behaviour forced a plane bound for Lanzarote to divert to Porto in Portugal last year.
Ryanair claims the diverted flight then had to be delayed overnight and caused 160 passengers to “face unnecessary disruption as well as losing a full day of their holiday”.
The airline described the passenger’s behaviour as “inexcusable” and “completely unacceptable”.
It said it calculated the sum of €15,000 from the cost of overnight accommodation, passenger expenses and landing costs.
It is the first time Ryanair has brought a civil case against a disruptive passenger in Ireland, but the airline warned it will “continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour on aircraft”.
“It is unacceptable that passengers – many of whom are heading away with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing Summer holiday – are suffering unnecessary disruption and reduced holiday time as a result of one unruly passenger’s behaviour,” a spokesperson said.
“This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy, and we hope this action will deter further disruptive behaviour on flights so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment.”
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In September last year, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary told Sky News that he is prepared to introduce a two-drink limit on planes – if the same rule is applied to airport bars.
He said that one of the worst affected destinations for passenger disorder was Ibiza.
“The real issue is how do we stop these people getting drunk at airports, particularly as, like this summer, we’ve had a huge spike in air traffic control delays,” Mr O’Leary said.
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“They’re getting on board with too much alcohol in their system. If we identify them as being drunk on board, we don’t serve them alcohol. But that doesn’t solve the problem.”
Airline Jet2.com said it already takes civil action against disruptive passengers.
While it is understood, easyJet’s policy is to push for criminal prosecutions and to ban disruptive passengers from future flights, rather than to launch civil proceedings.
