Disruptive Passenger's Behavior Forces Transatlantic Flight to Divert to Dublin

A 34-year-old American passenger, Zachary Greear, was sentenced to two months suspended prison time after his intoxicated behavior forced a United Airlines flight to divert to Dublin. Greear combined the tranquilizer Xanax with alcohol to manage his anxiety, resulting in unruly conduct during the flight from Amsterdam to New York.

The Dublin district court learned that Greear, who pleaded guilty to three offenses under Ireland’s Air Navigation and Transport Act, exhibited alarming behavior, including urinating in his seat and the aisle. The incident occurred two hours into the flight, prompting the pilot to divert to Dublin and dump approximately €30,000 worth of fuel.

Justice Finan described Greear's actions as "appalling" but acknowledged his sincere apology and willingness to pay €10,000 in damages. The judge emphasized the disruption caused to the flight crew and passengers. Greear, who has no prior convictions, expressed embarrassment over his actions and offered to cover additional costs related to the diversion. He will need to return to court with a revised payment plan after the judge found his initial offer inadequate.