Australian passenger ordered to pay over $8,000 for wasted fuel after diversion

An airline passenger has copped an unconventional penalty—he must reimburse the airline for the fuel costs the airline wasted during a diversion. The Australian Federal Police reported that a 32-year-old man from Western Australia caused a disturbance on a flight from Perth (PER/YPPH) to Sydney (SYD/YSSY), leading to the aircraft returning to Perth. Consequently, the pilot had to jettison fuel to safely land.

The passenger has been ordered to reimburse the airline $8,630 AUD ($5,806 USD) for the cost of the wasted fuel. Additionally, the Perth Magistrate Court imposed a fine of $6,055 on him. Consequently, his mid-air misconduct has accumulated a total cost of $11,861, which is likely a multiple of the original ticket price.

"This incident should serve as a warning that criminal behavior onboard can come with a heavy cost for the offender," said Shona Davis, the AFP's Acting Superintendent, in a statement. "It's much simpler to follow the instructions of airline staff than to cause unnecessary problems, which can ultimately hit you in the wallet."

Though the flight occurred on the 25th of September 2023, it took nearly a year for the case against the disorderly passenger to progress through the Australian legal system.

The identities of both the man and the airline remain confidential, and the specific actions leading to his substantial fine have not been disclosed. The accused passenger admitted guilt to one charge of disorderly conduct aboard an aircraft and one charge of not adhering to safety instructions.

Imposing a fuel cost on a disruptive passenger is unusual, but other forms of fines are more typical.

In 2021, the US Federal Aviation Administration declared a zero-tolerance stance towards misbehavior on flights.

During that year, fines were levied for various offenses on US flights, including a passenger who tried to breach the cockpit and another who assaulted a flight attendant, necessitating hospitalization. The most severe in-flight transgressions are reported to the Department of Justice.

The most substantial fine for an individual, amounting to $50,823 USD, was given to a passenger who carried personal alcohol onboard, became inebriated, attempted to smoke marijuana in the lavatory, and committed sexual assault against a flight attendant, all during that one flight.