An unruly woman who forced a Wizz Air flight to make an unscheduled landing is facing a potential £15,000 bill as the airline seeks to recoup costs through legal action.
The passenger, believed to be in her late 40s, was removed from London Gatwick to Hurghada flight after it diverted to Athens last Wednesday.
The incident occurred two hours into the journey when the intoxicated woman became disruptive and began swearing at cabin crew.
According to eyewitnesses, the woman had been drinking for most of the flight while travelling with her family.
The incident occurred two hours into the journey when the intoxicated woman became disruptive and began swearing at cabin crew
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She swapped seats with another passenger and became increasingly unruly.
When flight attendants asked her to calm down, she responded with profanity. The pilot ultimately decided to divert the plane midway through the five-hour flight.
The A321 aircraft landed at Athens airport where Greek police officers boarded to remove the disruptive passenger.
Video footage shows three officers escorting her off the plane while other holidaymakers applauded and cheered.
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Wizz Air has confirmed it is pursuing legal action against the passenger to recover costs incurred by the diversion.
A spokesperson told The Daily Mail: “It would involve filing legal proceedings against the passenger seeking damages owing to the substantial disruption it caused to other passengers, our crew and Wizz Air’s operations more generally.”
The airline emphasised its zero-tolerance approach to misconduct: “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority,” Wizz Air stated, adding that such behaviour was “completely unacceptable.”
Passenger Micheal Hands, 58, who was onboard with his girlfriend, described the scene as “absolute bedlam.”
“This woman had clearly been drinking all flight and maybe the crew shouldn’t have carried on serving her,” he told MailOnline.
He recounted how the woman moved seats and began arguing with cabin crew.
The captain eventually announced over the tannoy: “If the unruly passenger doesn’t return to her seat in two minutes we are making an emergency landing.”
As she was escorted off, one holidaymaker shouted: “Too late to cry now.”
The A321 aircraft landed at Athens airport where Greek police officers boarded to remove the disruptive passenger
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The incident caused significant delays for other passengers.
Flight tracking data showed the plane took off 20 minutes late from Gatwick and landed at Hurghada more than two hours behind schedule.
Greek police confirmed the woman was “under the influence of alcohol” and travelling with a child. She was arrested for obstruction before being released.
A replacement plane and crew reportedly had to make the return trip to Gatwick, with the return flight delayed by 24 hours.
The costs of fuel, staff hours, hotel accommodation and timetable disruption will all factor into Wizz Air’s legal claim.