Ryanair has initiated a private criminal prosecution through the Spanish courts against a passenger who disrupted a flight earlier this year.
The service from Lanzarote to Santiago de Compostela was subject to a 40 minute departure delay and “unnecessary disruption” to 137 passengers on January 17.
The accused traveller attempted to take a seat that was not assigned to him and became verbally abusive when crew asked to see his boarding card, according to the airline. He was removed from the flight by police.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that passengers, many of whom are on a family holiday, are suffering unnecessary delay as a result of one unruly passenger’s behaviour.
“Yet this was regrettably the case for passengers on this flight from Lanzarote to Santiago in January, during which a disruptive passenger caused a departure delay due to his misconduct.”
They added: “We have initiated a private criminal prosecution against this passenger, in which the court may impose a sentence of three-12 months imprisonment or a fine of six-18 months’ salary.
“These are just some of the potential consequences under Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy for passengers who disrupt flights.
“We hope this example will deter further disruptive behaviour on Ryanair flights, so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment as is their right.”