Summary:

Drunk passenger forces transatlantic flight diversion to Dublin.
Zachary Greear, 34, mixed Xanax and alcohol, leading to disruptive behavior.
Flight diverted over Donegal, resulting in €30,000 (~$31,700 USD) in fuel costs.
Greear pleaded guilty and received a two-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay €20,000 (~$20,900 USD) in damages.
The incident highlights increasing concerns about unruly passenger behavior on flights.

Drunk Passenger Diverts NYC Flight to Dublin

An unruly passenger, identified as 34-year-old American Zachary Greear, caused a United Airlines flight bound for New York from Amsterdam to make an emergency diversion to Dublin. Greear, described as a "nervous flyer," mixed Xanax and alcohol before the flight, leading to disruptive behavior including urinating in his seat and the aisle.

The Incident

The flight, already two hours into its journey, was forced to divert over Donegal after Greear's behavior escalated. The diversion resulted in €30,000 (~$31,700 USD) in fuel costs being dumped before landing in Dublin.

Upon arrest, Greear was reportedly disoriented due to intoxication. He has since pleaded guilty to charges under Ireland's Air Navigation and Transport Act, including intoxication, threatening behavior, and causing annoyance on board the aircraft. He has issued a written apology and was sentenced to a two-month suspended jail sentence.

The Aftermath

The judge, noting the "fear and trauma" caused to passengers and crew, ordered Greear to pay €20,000 (~$20,900 USD) in damages—double his initial offer. This incident also highlights a recent trend of unruly passenger behavior and the substantial costs associated with flight diversions.

This incident follows a similar case involving Ryanair, which is pursuing a €15,000 claim against a passenger who caused a flight diversion to Porto.

Source: The Guardian