Ryanair has announced it will be taking legal action against a passenger who disrupted a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote last year, causing a diversion to Porto. The airline is seeking 15,000 euros in damages.
The flight departed from Dublin to Lanzarote in April last year and during the flight a passenger caused so much disruption that it forced the pilot to divert to Porto. Ryanair estimates that the costs of accommodation, passenger compensation and landing at the Portuguese airport cost them 15,000 euros.
“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 Ryanair spokesperson stated.
“Yet this was regrettably the case for passengers on this flight from Dublin to Lanzarote last April, which was forced to divert to Porto as a result of an individual passenger’s disruptive behaviour, causing €15,000 in overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs. We have now filed civil proceedings to recover these costs from this passenger.”
“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.”