Recovering the cost of diversion from PAX

[ross_M]

Aviation Herald is full of tales of flying idiots causing a flight divert. The guy walking up and down the aisles smoking a joint, the drunk Miss Russian giving lap dances, the mad hatter trying to open a door at FL320 etc.

I wonder, do airlines ever go after these PAX to recover the cost of diversion using a civil lawsuit? Or is this just written off at the cost of doing business. Never came across any such news reports.

If it's worth making me pay for $3 packs of peanuts surely a $100k diversion damages lawsuit must be good pickings? Or not?

[radeng]

Not much point unless they have got the money.

[PAXboy]

It's the PR. Imagine the media reaction? Now, if it can be conclusively proved that the diversion had to take place because of bad behaviour - they could probably win it. Ask for, say, 10% of the cost as a deterrant.

So this axe would have to be weilded with considerable care. However, it's only a matter of time before it is.