Jet2 sues two Dundee women after drunken behaviour forces flight to divert to Cologne

Jet2 has filed a civil action to recoup more than £27,000 in compensation after a flight from Edinburgh to Dalaman was diverted to Cologne following the disruptive behaviour of two passengers, a court was told.

Court heard Courtney Maich, 27, was being moved to the correct seat but refused and became aggressive toward cabin crew shortly after takeoff at about 4 p.m. on Oct. 8 last year, the Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told. Maich and her partner Alannah O’Neill, 28, who were travelling for the first time, had been drinking on the Edinburgh to Dalaman service and refused to stop shouting and swearing despite repeated requests from cabin crew. Maich was handed a written warning by the captain. The couple's behaviour led the captain to divert to Cologne around 90 minutes after takeoff, where Maich was escorted from the plane.

Passengers were grounded for about three hours before the Jet2 aircraft continued to its destination; a return flight to Edinburgh was cancelled and rescheduled for the following day. Jet2 paid out £27,370.53 to accommodate passengers and staff in hotels, and the return flight eventually landed in Edinburgh 16 hours late. The airline has since served a civil action on both Maich and O’Neill in an attempt to recoup the losses.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Gunn told the court that Maich was asked to move to her correct seat but refused and escalated, raising her voice and swearing as the aircraft left Edinburgh. The disturbance involved O’Neill and other groups, and the decision was taken to divert to Cologne. German police boarded the flight and, during the removal of Maich, she spat at a passenger who was with her husband and their seven-year-old son.

Maich pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, acting aggressively and uttering threats of violence and offensive remarks to other passengers on the aircraft between Edinburgh and Cologne. She also admitted to assaulting a woman by spitting on her body. Maich and O’Neill both admitted to a charge of failing to obey the pilot’s commands, ignoring instructions not to drink alcohol, shouting and swearing and behaving in a disruptive and anti-social manner.

Co-accused Natasha Gilligan, 49, from Dundee, had not guilty pleas accepted by the Crown and Michaela Hawes, 35, from Dundee, has a non-appearance warrant out for her arrest.

Sheriff Peter Anderson said the pair’s behaviour had “catastrophic consequences” for other passengers and they had “ruined the start of a holiday for a large number of people.” He added: “This was utterly disgraceful conduct and cannot be allowed to happen again.” Maich and O’Neill were sentenced to a 12-month supervision order, 120 hours of unpaid work and both will be tagged and have to stay at home between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.; Maich four months and O’Neill three. Maich was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation for the assault on Ms Taylor. Maich pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and to assaulting a person; she and O’Neill also admitted to failing to obey the pilot’s commands, ignoring instructions not to drink, and to shouting and behaving disruptively.

The case comes weeks after new figures showed crime and disorder at Scotland’s airports has risen 41% over the past three years. Last year police attended 5,598 incidents across Scotland’s 16 airports, up from 3,989 in 2022. Edinburgh Airport saw incidents rise from 2,525 in 2022 to 3,167 last year while Glasgow Airport’s incidents increased from 1,154 to 1,526.