In an unusual move by Australian authorities, a misbehaving passenger aboard a 2023 flight to Sydney has been ordered to pay thousands of dollars to cover fuel expenses for an aircraft he caused to divert. While the man and the airline haven't been named, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is looking to make it clear to the public that unruly behavior during flights is not a joke.
 

Disorder Down Under

On September 25, 2023, a 33-year-old West Australian man was reported to have "unruly onboard behavior" on a flight from Perth to Sydney. While the AFP didn't specify what the man did, it was enough to cause the pilot to dump fuel from the aircraft and return to Perth, while the flight altogether was canceled.

When the plane returned to Perth, AFP agents were there to arrest the man, where he would be charged with one count of disorderly conduct on an aircraft and one count of failing to comply with safety guidelines on an aircraft.

On September 5, 2024, the man pleaded guilty to both offenses. The man is now responsible for paying the airline AUD 8,630 (USD 5,817) in restitution costs for the fuel wasted during the flight. Perth Magistrates Court also issued him a fine of $9,000 ($6,066). Altogether, the man must pay back over AUD 17,500. It isn't known if the man has faced or will face time in jail.

AFP Acting Superintendent Shona Davis issued comments in a press release regarding the substantial fines:

“This incident should serve as a warning that criminal behavior on board can come at a heavy cost to the offender...It’s far simpler to obey the directions of airline staff than cause unnecessary issues, which can end up hitting you in the hip pocket...The AFP is committed to ensuring all travelers have a safe journey from their departure through to their arrival at their destination.”
 

History Of Airline Fines

While the Australian man was placed with a hefty fuel fine, other passengers in America were served with even bigger penalties for disorderly conduct. Since 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has charged passengers with over $20 million in penalties.

On July 7, 2021, a passenger was charged with a historic fine of over $80,000 for pushing and attacking flight attendants and attempting to open the cabin's door on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Just over a week later on July 16, a female passenger was faced with a fine of over $77,000 for fondling the passenger next to her, biting another passenger, refusing to remain seated, and attempting to exit the plane mid-flight.

On February 13, 2022, an Arizona woman threatened and expressed hostile behavior toward flight attendants during an American Airlines flight. She was ordered to pay over $38,000 in restitution and served nearly four months in prison. She is currently on supervised release.

Airline authorities around the world are cracking down on disorderly conduct, as safety needs to be the main priority when lives are in the hands of airlines and crews tens of thousands of feet in the air.