SIA to make passenger pay for unscheduled landing in Darwin
Thursday July 3, 1:15 PM
Mid-air misbehaviour may cost SIA passenger dearly
SYDNEY, July 3 (Reuters) - A Singapore Airlines flight made an unscheduled stop in northern Australia on Thursday to eject an unruly passenger, and the man could be asked to pay the A$25,000 ($17,000) bill.
A spokesman for Singapore Airlines said it was exploring ways to get the man to pay at least some of the additional costs, such as landing charges, caused by the unexpected stop in Darwin during a flight from Singapore to Brisbane.
The man, an Australian, had been having a heated discussion with a companion, "involving a lot of profanity", and then became more unruly when flight crew refused to serve him a drink.
"The captain made the call to divert the flight because he was satisfied that not only was this passenger causing a significant disruption to the flight but that disruption was causing significant distress to other passengers," the spokesman said. "That's a decision we unreservedly stand by."
The passenger was handed over to police after flight SQ235, carrying 298 passengers and 14 crew, landed in Darwin at 3:41 a.m. local time (1841 GMT Wednesday). He is to be produced in court later in the day.
Singapore Airlines estimated the additional costs incurred by the diversion amounted to between A$24,000-A$25,000, including fuel, landing rights, air traffic control fees, hiring of ground staff in the middle of the night and missed connections.
"There were no complaints from passengers about the decision to put down in Darwin and get rid of this guy. In fact, when he was led off the aircraft by police, the police were cheered," the spokesman said.
Last edited by Lee; 3rd Jul 2003 at 15:50.