Man in court over air rage incident

A 36-year-old Greek man is to appear in court today in connection with a transatlantic air rage incident.

The man was travelling from New York to Athens on a Delta Airlines flight.

After he became abusive, the captain contacted air traffic control at Shannon Airport and landed at 5am.

The man was then arrested by police and will appear before a special sitting of Gort District Court in Galway later today.

The Boeing 767, which can carry up to 195 passengers, refuelled at Shannon and departed for Athens at 7.20am. It was due to land in the Greek capital at 12.45pm.

A Delta Airlines spokeswoman said the details of any passenger convicted of air rage would be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

Shannon Airport has seen a number of planes diverted from the United States in recent years over air rage incidents as it is the first airport in Europe on the transatlantic route.

Airport spokeswoman Claire McEnery said most air rage incidents were related to excessive consumption of alcohol.

In April, an American Airlines flight from New York to London diverted to Shannon after two US passengers attacked cabin crew and caused €20,000 damage to the plane.

The two men were fined €50,000 after admitting the air rage incidents and banned from flying for two years.