Recovering the cost of diversion from PAX
 

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?

Not much point unless they have got the money.

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.