Depending on the airline and the laws of the country one is flying over, causing a disturbance on a flight could get one a simple warning, a flying ban or a criminal record and hefty fines.
Over in Australia, a man who behaved in a way that caused a Qantas Airways (QUBSF) -owned Jetstar flight from Perth to Sydney to be diverted was ordered by a court to reimburse the jet fuel that was lost: $8,630 Australian dollars or just over $5,760.
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Australian Federal Police (AFP) said that Western Australia resident Wade Corbett was charged with one count of disorderly behavior on an aircraft and another count of failing to comply with air crew instructions, according to a statement.
The office said further that Corbett had been drunk and disruptive on what was supposed to be a four-hour flight to the point that the pilot made the call to divert the plane back to Perth and had to dump the unused fuel in order to land.
'Incident should serve as a warning' about bad behavior on board
The incident occurred on Sept. 25, 2023 while Corbett pleaded guilty to both charges this week. The sentence includes the AUD 8,630 in compensation for the wasted fuel and AUD 9,000 ($5,987) as a fine.
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"This incident should serve as a warning that criminal behavior on board can come at a heavy cost to the offender," acting AFP superintendent Shona Davis said in a statement. "It's far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket."
The passengers on the canceled flight were given accommodation in Perth and, as the incident occurred late in the day, were placed on alternative flights to Sydney the next day.
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What happens if your in-air behavior is deemed disruptive
On U.S.-based airlines, the air crew classifies any unpredictable passenger behavior according to a scale ranging from "suspicious or threatening" to "life-threatening." The latter is cause for an immediate diversion and calling an anti-terrorism squad upon landing.
At the start of 2024, several flight attendants on an Air Canada (ACDVF) flight had to restrain a 16-year-old passenger when he lunged at and tried to attack a family member who was traveling with him.
The flight from Toronto to Calgary ended up getting diverted to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) and the traveler was apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mountain Police.
And sometimes it's not just the passengers. In August 2024, a Frontier Airlines (FRON) plane full of travelers waiting to fly to Dallas instead watched police board the plane and arrest 45-year-old pilot Seymour Walker on an "assault-family violence warrant."
And one of the most viral plane incidents in the last year took place when a woman on a United Airlines (UAL) flight caused a plane traveling from Houston to Los Angeles to be diverted to Phoenix because she reportedly "couldn't get her wine" (she was also, upon landing, slapped with a lifetime ban from flying with United while the internet nickname 'United Airlines Wine Karen' took off with viral speed.)
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