France – US flight diverts to Ireland because of passenger disruption
Irish police arrest man on Delta Airlines’ Paris-Atlanta route
A 30-year-old man aboard the flight from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle (pictured) reportedly caused a disturbance in the cabin
Chandra Ramsurrun / Shutterstock
A Delta Airlines flight from Paris to Atlanta was diverted to Ireland on November 27 due to the unruly conduct of a passenger.
A 30-year-old man aboard the flight from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle reportedly caused a commotion and disturbance in the cabin, prompting the crew to make a stopover in Ireland after an hour and a half's flight.
The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport, where he was arrested by Irish Gardaí. The aircraft then resumed its route for the US.
Delta Air Lines did not provide further details about the nature of the incident.
“We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior,” said Delta Airlines in a statement. “The safety and security of our customers and crew is our top priority. We will work closely with law enforcement authorities to address this matter.”
The company apologised to customers for any delays the incident caused.
Disruptive passengers more common
While alcohol abuse is often cited as a leading cause of unruly behaviour aboard aircraft, it is not known if that was the case here.
Nonetheless, the phenomenon of disruptive passengers has become more common in recent years.
According to figures from the International Air Transport Association there was one such incident (unruly and threatening behaviour) for every 835 flights in 2021.
By 2022, this figure had risen to one in every 568 flights - an increase of 47%.
This rise has prompted the industry to call for a crackdown on the sale of alcohol.
In August, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, told The Telegraph that airports should limit the number of drinks to two per passenger.
“It is not so easy for airlines to identify drunk people at the boarding gate, particularly if they're boarding with two or three other people,” he said.
“As long as they can stand up and move around, they get through. Then, when the plane takes off, we see their bad behaviour.”
In France, laws exist to punish disruptive passengers for their behaviour on flights.
People who disrupt safety announcements, use electronic devices when not supposed to, or are otherwise disruptive and prevent flights from leaving, are liable to a €10,000 fine and a ban from boarding a French-operated aircraft for up to two years.
Repeat offences can see these punishments doubled.
If found guilty of damaging an aircraft, prison sentences increase to five years, and fines of up to €75,000.
