A judge has asked Aer Lingus to provide the costs of having to return a transatlantic aircraft to Shannon due to the presence of an alleged unruly passenger on board.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett said that “the cost of the return is probably €70,000 or €80,000”.
He said: “They had to burn off fuel or they had to dump fuel to get back to Shannon – this is all serious stuff.”
He said: “I would like to know how much that is costing Aer Lingus.”
Judge Gabbett made his comment after Patrick Noone (57) of Curragh, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Galway appeared in connection to two charges arising from the E1 135 Shannon to Boston flight on November 11th 2023.
Solicitor for Mr Noone, John Casey said that his client is entering a guilty plea to the two charges.
In the case, passenger on board the E1 135 Shannon to Boston flight, Mr Noone is charged with engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on the flight whether by word or gesture with intent to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned
The charge is contrary to section 2A and Section 2a of the Air Navigation and Transport Act.
Mr Noone is also charged with being intoxicated on board the EI 135 flight on November 11th 2023 to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that you might endanger yourself or other persons on board the said aircraft
This charge is contrary to section 2 (a) 1 and 2 (a) 4 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973.
Mr Casey said that the charges were the equivalent of two public order charges “except that they were on a plane”.
Judge Gabbett said that the problem with the alleged offence taking place on a plane is that the plane has to return and the airport has to clear the runway.
He said: “The aircraft can’t land with all that fuel so they either dump it or they burn it. The airline is now at a loss – that is the problem. It is all very difficult stuff.”
Sgt John Burke told the court that there is a parallel investigation into a separate allegation.
Judge Gabbett asked that directions concerning that investigation be before the court for the next day.
He said: “Justice delayed is justice denied and to be fair to the man we can’t have it hanging.”
Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Noone on bail to appear again in court on October 23rd.
