In a case involving unruly behavior on a United Airlines flight, a British man, Alexander Michael Dominic MacDonald, has been sentenced to pay a significant fine. On March 1, 2023, MacDonald, a 30-year-old resident of Chelmsford, England, engaged in an altercation with his travel companion on a flight from London to Newark.
During the altercation, MacDonald became belligerent, threatening, and intimidating towards flight attendants. Despite the crew’s efforts to calm him down, MacDonald could not be contained and the flight was forced to divert to Bangor International Airport in Maine. The unscheduled landing resulted in additional expenses for United Airlines, including the cost of landing and potential delays for other flights.
Following his arrest, MacDonald was charged with felony interference with flight crew members and attendants, and misdemeanor assault on a special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He pleaded guilty to the charges on March 22 and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker.
As part of his sentence, MacDonald was ordered to pay restitution to United Airlines in the amount of $20,638. This payment is intended to cover the airline’s expenses incurred as a result of MacDonald’s disruptive behavior. Additionally, MacDonald was sentenced to time served, taking into account his period of custody since his arrest on March 1.
The incident involving MacDonald is not an isolated case, as unruly passenger behavior has become a growing concern for airlines. In a similar incident last year, two Englishmen were sentenced for causing their flight to land unscheduled at Bangor International Airport. The pair was also ordered to pay restitution for the costs associated with the diversion.
Unruly passenger behavior can disrupt flights, cause delays, and create safety risks. Airlines are working to address this issue through various measures, including stricter enforcement of rules, increased screening, and training for flight crews on how to handle disruptive passengers.
