A passenger was taken to court and ordered to pay for the plane’s fuel after causing a disturbance during a flight.
According to the Australian Federal Police, the incident involved a 32-year-old man from Western Australia who disrupted a flight from Perth to Sydney on September 25, 2023.
As reported by CNN on Monday (September 16, 2024), after a year, the man was ordered to repay USD 5,806 to the airline to cover the wasted fuel costs. Additionally, the Perth Magistrates Court fined him USD 6,055, bringing the total cost of his disruptive behavior in the air to USD 11,861.
This incident serves as a warning that criminal behavior on an airplane can have serious consequences for the offender. It’s far easier to comply with the airline staff’s directions than to cause unnecessary trouble, which can end in hefty financial penalties.
The passenger’s name, the airline involved, and specific details of the case were not disclosed publicly. However, the individual pleaded guilty to one charge of disorderly conduct on the plane and another charge of failing to comply with safety instructions.
In 2021, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration introduced a zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior on flights.
The highest individual fine so far—USD 40,823—was imposed on a passenger who brought their own alcohol onboard, got drunk, attempted to smoke marijuana in the restroom, and sexually assaulted a flight attendant during the flight.