Ryanair Files Lawsuit Against Passenger Over Flight Diversion Incident

Ryanair has initiated a £12,500 legal claim against a passenger accused of causing a flight disruption that led to an emergency landing. The incident occurred during a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in April last year, forcing the plane to divert to Porto, Portugal.

The budget airline alleges that the passenger's behaviour resulted in 160 travellers being stranded overnight, with the airline covering costs for hotel accommodation, landing fees, and other passenger expenses. Ryanair is now pursuing reimbursement through Ireland's Circuit Court in what it describes as the first civil claim of its kind.

Although the airline has not disclosed specific details of the disruption, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has previously raised concerns about alcohol-fuelled violence and pre-flight drinking contributing to rising in-flight disturbances.

Flight FR7124 was delayed overnight, causing passengers to lose a day of their holiday. Ryanair said the claim is aimed at recovering financial losses and deterring future disruptive behaviour, with penalties in civil cases potentially exceeding those in criminal prosecutions.

For instance, a Greek court recently fined a passenger €400 (£334) and handed down a five-month suspended sentence for refusing to follow crew instructions during a 2020 flight to Athens.

Figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reveal an increase in unruly passenger incidents, rising from one case per 568 flights in 2022 to one per 480 flights in 2023. Common issues include failing to comply with crew instructions, verbal abuse, and physical altercations.

Ryanair has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward disruptive passengers, with a spokesperson stating, "This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face. We hope this will deter further disruptive behaviour."

Mr. O'Leary has advocated for stricter alcohol controls, including a two-drink limit at airport bars, to address in-flight disturbances. He attributed the issue to a combination of excessive drinking and drug use, emphasising that it is difficult to identify potentially problematic passengers before boarding.

Flights from the UK and Ireland to "party destinations" are said to be particularly prone to such incidents. The airline has implemented measures, including bag searches for passengers heading to Ibiza.

However, industry leaders like Sir Tim Martin, head of Wetherspoon's pubs, have defended airport outlets, stating they already enforce measures to curb excessive drinking, such as removing two-for-one drink promotions. He also suggested that much of the problem stems from passengers consuming alcohol purchased in duty-free shops.

In recent years, there have been numerous high-profile cases of in-flight misconduct. In 2023, a man was arrested for sexually assaulting and spitting on Jet2 staff during a Manchester-Ibiza flight. Another flight from Manchester to Tenerife was forced to divert after violent clashes broke out among passengers.

Ryanair's lawsuit underscores its commitment to addressing the financial and operational impacts of such behaviour.

Broadgate Legal