Passenger who caused flight diversion is paying for it
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Passenger who caused flight diversion is paying for it
I didn't see this covered elsewhere but the unruly passenger who caused a PDX-ATL flight to divert to TUL back in May will pay DL $9,118 for the diversion. He also pleaded guilty to a federal assault charge. This is the first time I'm reading about someone who caused a diversion having to pay the airline for it.
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime...m-13064233.php
-RM
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime...m-13064233.php
-RM
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
I didn't see this covered elsewhere but the unruly passenger who caused a PDX-ATL flight to divert to TUL back in May will pay DL $9,118 for the diversion. He also pleaded guilty to a federal assault charge. This is the first time I'm reading about someone who caused a diversion having to pay the airline for it.
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime...m-13064233.php
-RM
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime...m-13064233.php
-RM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Planet Earth(most days)
Programs: Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 1,544
It's too bad they couldn't make him pay for the hotels, meals, misconnect time etc. A little over $9,000 isn't a deterrent to most people, but when you see the airline charging a few hundred thousand, people might actually grow up and be a little more respectful in the airport and airplane.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
It's too bad they couldn't make him pay for the hotels, meals, misconnect time etc. A little over $9,000 isn't a deterrent to most people, but when you see the airline charging a few hundred thousand, people might actually grow up and be a little more respectful in the airport and airplane.
#5
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This was a restitution order as part of a federal criminal judgment. The judgment stands for 20 years. Even if one does not have that much money, all it takes is a relative dying and leaving $10K and that money is gone. You would be surprised at how much restitution is actually collected.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Either way, I doubt this person is penniless. Generally speaking people in poverty aren't flying transcons. It may be hard to believe but 15-20% of the adult US population have never taken a flight (at least per a study back in 2003 - may be slightly dated now). I would imagine that there is a strong correlation to long term poverty to that percentage.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
I think the issue is two fold:
First: $9K is no where near the amount of what a diversion costs DL. It probably doesn't even account for the extra fuel much less everything else
Second: People who can't behave themselves on planes are a special breed. The fine could be $9M, plus 1Y in jail, plus a lifetime air travel ban, plus their dog gets shot into the sun, but it's likely to make very little difference. Rationally it makes sense that it would be a deterrent, but it's an inherently irrational act. And there in lies the problem.
First: $9K is no where near the amount of what a diversion costs DL. It probably doesn't even account for the extra fuel much less everything else
Second: People who can't behave themselves on planes are a special breed. The fine could be $9M, plus 1Y in jail, plus a lifetime air travel ban, plus their dog gets shot into the sun, but it's likely to make very little difference. Rationally it makes sense that it would be a deterrent, but it's an inherently irrational act. And there in lies the problem.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Owner of 2,000 TWA shares
Posts: 812