Jet2 is to ‘vigorously pursue’ two disruptive passengers for costs incurred when they caused a flight from Edinburgh to Dalaman to be diverted.
Courtney Maich, 27, and her partner Alannah O’Neill, 28, were part of a larger group travelling on the flight, on 8 October 2024, and it’s reported drunken arguments broke out between them.
The pair, from Dundee, refused to stop shouting and swearing when asked to by cabin crew and Maich received a written warning from the captain, who then made the decision to divert to Cologne.
As she was being removed from the aircraft by German police, Maich spat at the mother of a child on the flight, in what Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard was a ‘disgraceful and disgusting’ attack.
Passengers were grounded for three hours before the aircraft could resume its journey and a return flight to Edinburgh had to be postponed until the next day.
Jet2 spent £27,370.53 accommodating passengers and crew in overnight hotel stays. The airline has launched a civil action against both women to recover its losses.
Maich and O’Neill, who admitted to various offences last month, will be tagged and given a curfew for four months and three months, respectively. They also received a 12-month supervision order and have been told to do 120 hours of unpaid work.
In addition, Maich has been ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the passenger she spat at.
A non-appearance warrant is out for the arrest of another woman, Michaela Hawes, 35, also from Dundee.
A Jet2 spokesperson told Travel Gossip: “This case demonstrates that there are serious consequences if you act in a disruptive or aggressive fashion onboard an aircraft.
“As well as banning them from flying with us for life, we will vigorously pursue Ms Maich and Ms O’Neill for the losses that we have incurred.
“As a family friendly airline carrying millions of holidaymakers, many of whom our families, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour.”
