A disruptive passenger's alcohol-fuelled behaviour forced a Jet2 holiday flight to divert from its intended destination, causing significant alarm among travellers and substantial financial losses for the airline.
Flight Diverted After Abusive Outburst
Michaela Hawes, a 36-year-old from Dundee, boarded the Jet2 flight from Edinburgh to Dalaman in Turkey after consuming alcohol, immediately displaying signs of intoxication and agitation. During the flight, her behaviour escalated dramatically when she verbally assaulted cabin crew members and the captain.
Unruly Behaviour Forces Emergency Landing
The situation deteriorated to such an extent that the captain made the decision to divert the aircraft from its Turkish destination. The plane was instead forced to land in Cologne, Germany, where local police officers boarded to remove Hawes from the flight.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that Hawes' actions caused "a great deal of alarm and distress" to both passengers and crew members. Sheriff Frank Gill described the incident as "a frightening experience for everyone on board" the aircraft, which was carrying numerous families and children at the time of the disturbance.
Substantial Financial Consequences
The diversion resulted in significant operational and financial repercussions for Jet2. The flight was delayed for three hours, causing crew members to exceed their permitted flight times. Furthermore, the airline incurred substantial costs estimated at £27,370.53 to accommodate hundreds of passengers in hotels overnight.
The delayed flight eventually returned to Edinburgh approximately 16 hours behind schedule the following day, compounding the disruption for all travellers involved.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Hawes pleaded guilty to acting in an aggressive manner aboard the aircraft during the incident on October 8, 2024. During sentencing proceedings, defence lawyer James McMacken described his client as "extremely remorseful" for her actions and noted she is a mother of two children.
Sheriff Gill imposed a six-month supervision order and a restriction of liberty order requiring Hawes to remain within her home between 7pm and 7am for five months. Additionally, she must attend an alcohol misuse service specifically designed for women as part of her conduct requirements.
Additional Family Members Involved
The court heard that other family members travelling with Hawes contributed significantly to the disturbance. Co-accused Courtney Maich and Alannah O'Neill, both also from Dundee, were sentenced for their roles in the incident during separate proceedings in September last year.
Both received supervision orders and were required to complete 120 hours of unpaid work. They were also subjected to curfew restrictions, with Maich confined to her home between 8pm and 7am for four months and O'Neill for three months.
Maich faced additional consequences, being ordered to pay £200 in compensation for spitting on a fellow passenger while being escorted from the aircraft by German police officers. Jet2 has initiated civil proceedings against both Maich and O'Neill in an attempt to recover the substantial financial losses incurred due to the diversion.
Broader Implications for Airline Security
This incident highlights the serious consequences of disruptive behaviour aboard commercial flights, particularly when alcohol consumption is involved. The case demonstrates how individual actions can affect hundreds of passengers, create significant operational challenges for airlines, and result in substantial financial penalties for those responsible.
Airline representatives have emphasised the importance of respectful behaviour towards crew members and fellow passengers, noting that such incidents not only cause immediate disruption but can also have lasting legal and financial repercussions for those involved.
