"Dislike Economy Class" Passenger Riot Causes Flight Diversion in US... Fine Up to 45 Million KRW Possible

San Francisco→Taipei Flight
"Diverted Due to Disorderly Passenger"
In-flight Disturbance + Assault Case Worth Over 100 Million Won

On a flight from the United States to Taiwan, a passenger caused a disturbance by refusing to sit in the economy class, ultimately forcing the plane to return to the airport.

According to USA Today and Insider on the 24th (local time), a United Airlines flight from San Francisco, USA to Taipei, Taiwan turned back just two hours after takeoff on the 17th.

United Airlines stated, "Flight United 871 returned to San Francisco due to a disruptive passenger," adding, "Security personnel removed the passenger from the plane upon its return, and the flight is scheduled to depart for Taipei, Taiwan late in the evening."

At the time, the passenger refused to sit in their economy seat and caused a disturbance in the business class. Although the flight attendants asked him to return to his seat, the passenger reportedly refused.

[Image source=Pixabay]

A passenger who claimed to be on the flight posted on the aviation information site 'FlyerTalk,' "During the initial beverage service, he approached the business class area. The flight attendant told him to return to his seat, and he seemed to comply, but soon after, he went back to the business class again."

This is not the first time a flight has been forced to return due to a passenger causing a disturbance onboard.

On the 9th, United Airlines flight UA20, departing from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, made an unscheduled landing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Illinois just two hours after takeoff.

At that time, a male passenger reportedly caused a disturbance with the flight attendants because he did not receive the in-flight meal he wanted.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) applies a zero-tolerance policy toward disruptive behavior onboard. Although the FAA is not a law enforcement agency, it has the authority to recommend fines for in-flight disturbances to judicial authorities.

The maximum fine for each incident of disruptive behavior onboard can be up to $35,000 (approximately 45 million KRW). However, fines can accumulate for multiple offenses such as verbal abuse, failure to comply with crew instructions, and attempts to open emergency exits.

In April of last year, a passenger who caused a disturbance by demanding the aircraft door be opened during flight and assaulted a flight attendant was fined a record-high amount of $81,950 (approximately 107 million KRW).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.