Unruly Flyer to Pay United $20,638 for Diversion
Joe Cortez May 03, 2024
The U.S. Department of Justice announced 30-year-old Alexander Michael Dominic MacDonald will pay the carrier $20,638 for causing the disturbance which led to his arrest.
Fight With Companion Started Events to Cause Diversion
According to the Justice Department, the incident began aboard a flight on March 1, 2024 between a flight from London to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). MacDonald began loudly arguing with his traveling companion after they entered the U.S. airspace. The argument ultimately created a disturbance, which caused the flight crew to get involved.
The flight attendants asked MacDonald to quiet down and tried to calm him down from the incident. Instead of complying, he became even more belligerent. The Justice Department says he became “threatening and intimidating” towards the crew.
The disturbance forced the international purser to get involved in the disturbance, at which point MacDonald said he would “mess up the plane.” After continued disturbance, the decision was made to handcuff the flyer and divert the flight from its planned destination in Newark to Bangor International Airport (BGR) in Maine.
MacDonald was held in custody until his sentencing on April 25, 2024. Although he will not be held in jail or prison any further (he was sentenced to time served), he is obligated to repay $20,638 to United Airlines for the diversion.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, and the Bangor Police Department were all involved in the case.
He saved everyone from having to go to Newark!! He's a hero!
Seriously, however, he'll just go home and never return to the USA in lieu of ever paying $20K.
Being a foriegn national they should have held him until the restitution was paid.
So hold someone in jail where they are unable to work and then keep them there forever since they can not earn any money? Seems like a great use of taxpayer money and also ridiculous to give someone a life sentence for something that wasn't considered serious enough to actually warrant a life sentence...
Pretty sure you are describing debtor's prison, something that was banned in the US a long, long time ago.
What about restitution to any airline passenger who incurred additional financial costs for missed/delayed connections, and/or late arrival.
The airline will say that the other passengers (should) have travel insurance to cover such costs.
good question