RYANAIR IS TAKING a civil case against a passenger it alleges disrupted a flight, causing it to be diverted.

The airline said this morning that it had filed the legal proceedings in the Irish Circuit Court, claiming over €15,000 in damages against a passenger who it alleges disrupted a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote last year.

Ryanair contends the passenger’s behaviour forced the flight to divert to Porto, where it was delayed overnight, resulting in 160 passengers to facing “unnecessary disruption as well as losing a full day of their holiday”.

It said the €15,000 comes from the cost of overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs.

Ryanair hopes the “clamp down” will deter passengers from being disruptive in future. It pledged to “continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour on aircraft” and promised to show “zero tolerance” towards disruptive behaviour.

“Ryanair is committed to ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a safe and respectful environment,” the airline said.