A WOMAN WHOSE allegedly abusive behaviour caused a flight to divert to Shannon Airport has been charged more than €9,000 by the airline as well as receiving a lifetime ban.

The 42-year-old woman from Sunderland was arrested by gardaí after the flight from Tenerife to Newcastle made an emergency landing in Ireland on New Year’s Day.

She was taken to Shannon Garda Station and later released without charge, with a file prepared for the DPP.

In a statement today, Jet2.com said the woman has received an invoice for £6,800 (€9,100), and given a lifetime ban.

The airline alleged that the woman was ‘aggressive and abusive’, and that it was necessary to hand her over to gardaí to protect the safety of those onboard the plane.

Phil Ward, managing director of Jet2.com, said:

Passengers were inconvenienced on New Year’s Day because this woman’s unacceptable behaviour towards our crew caused a substantial delay. We will therefore be pursuing the bill for the cost and we will do everything we can to assist the Irish authorities in working towards a potential prosecution.

Read: Woman arrested after flight makes emergency landing at Shannon >