An “unruly” passenger who smoked shortly after takeoff, consumed his own alcohol and verbally abused other travelers has been sentenced to 225 hours of community service, according to Ryanair.
The low-cost airline issued a statement on August 13, 2025, claiming that the disruptive individual had been convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
According to Ryanair, the passenger flew from Edinburgh to Lanzarote on July 5, 2024 , and was one of three disruptive customers.
In a statement Ryanair said the passenger’s “inexcusable behavior” forced the flight to turnback to Edinburgh, causing six crew members and 178 passengers to “suffer unnecessary disruption”.
“The Edinburgh Sheriff Court issued this passenger with a Community Payback Order and sentenced him to 225 hours of community service,” said a Ryanair spokesperson.
Ryanair welcomed the court’s decision which it said reaffirms the airline’s zero tolerance policy on “passenger misconduct”.
The airline said it will continue to “combat unruly passenger behavior on aircraft for the benefit of the vast majority of passengers who do not disrupt flights”.
According to The Scotsman, the unruly passenger was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on August 5, 2025.
“We welcome the Community Payback Order of 225 hours community service issued to this passenger by the Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy, and we hope this action will further deter disruptive behavior on flights so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment,” added the Ryanair spokesperson.
4 comments
Community Service? What a disgrace. This sort of behavior needs stronger punishment.
Community service? Really? This person’s face should be posted on the departure/arrivals board across all United Kingdom and E.U. airports. They’ve simply incentivized psycho’s of his ilk to behave unabated now knowing they get a slap on the wrist. Endangering the public and crew on this scale should come with lifetime bans of ever passing through airport security – anywhere, full stop. Too harsh you say? Well what if they had charged the cockpit? Started a fire? Along with a host of other horrific outcomes which could have played out….
Until people start serving serious jail time or are forced to pay significant fines, this type of behaviour will continue. Airlines need to start charging unruly passengers for the costs associated with costs involved with a diversion or in this case a RTB.
Completely agree that community service is not punishment enough. Jail time, super costly fines and/or a lengthy ban from all air travel should be the price to pay for passengers like this!