Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Couple whose violent fight diverted Jet2 flight fined £3,000

The pair’s actions cost the airline thousands of pounds

Helen Coffey
Tuesday 11 December 2018 08:46 EST
Comments
Jet2 has been successful in its claim for compensation
Jet2 has been successful in its claim for compensation (iStock)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A couple whose disruptive behaviour diverted a Jet2 flight has been fined more than £3,000.

Flight LS1507 from London Stansted to Gran Canaria on 6 July 2017 had to land in Faro, Portugal, instead, after Ronald St Ville, 55, and Pauline Gordon, 65, started using foul language and hitting one another.

After cabin crew conferred with pilots, the decision was made to divert to Faro as the rest of the journey was over water – the concern was that crew would not be able to perform their duties if anything went wrong because they had to focus all their attention on the couple.

The pair were charged with “recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft” earlier this year.

Jet2, in addition to issuing a lifetime flying ban to the couple, also took steps to recover costs which it incurred as a result of the diversion.

Its legal action was successful, with Pauline Gordon ordered by Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court to repay the airline more than £3,000.

Phil Ward, MD of Jet2.com said: “This is the latest of many successful court rulings against disruptive passenger behaviour, showing once again that there are serious consequences if you act in a disruptive fashion onboard an aircraft.

“As well as being banned from flying with us for life, Miss Gordon must now repay us for losses incurred, which came about as a direct result of her actions.

“As a family-friendly airline carrying millions of holidaymakers, many of whom our families, we want our customers to have an enjoyable flight experience without the actions of a disruptive few spoiling it.”

At the original trial, heard in Chelmsford, cabin crew said they felt “scared” and “intimidated” by the couple after they started shouting at each other.

Gordon was witnessed hitting St Ville in the neck and the back by cabin crew.

Traveler discovers she is the only passenger on her flight

“Some of the children had got a bit upset, there were two crying children,” said Caitlin McAleese. “I felt very intimidated. I was scared of the potential of the gentleman.”

Fellow cabin crew member Felicity Scott added: “We would have felt completely on edge about what could happen next [had the plane not diverted]. I told the pilots because it was such a situation they needed to know about it.

“It was a situation we believed was endangering the safety to the aircraft.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in