Ryanair has welcomed the sentencing of a disruptive passenger whose behaviour forced a holiday flight to turn back last year.
The incident occurred on flight RK5593 heading from Edinburgh to Lanzarote in Spain’s Canary Islands on 5 July 2024. According to the airline, soon after take-off the man began smoking, drinking his own alcohol and verbally abusing fellow travellers.
He was one of three passengers causing trouble onboard, prompting the pilot to return to Edinburgh and resulting in what the airline described as ‘unnecessary disruption’ for the 178 passengers on board.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the man was given a Community Payback Order and ordered to complete 225 hours of unpaid work.
Ryanair reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on disruptive conduct and said it would continue to act against such behaviour.
A spokesperson for the airline said: ‘We welcome the Community Payback Order which demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy.’
‘We hope this action will further deter disruptive behaviour on flights.’
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