Alexander MacDonald was recently ordered to pay United Airlines over $20,000 after causing a flight to divert to Bangor, Maine. The 30-year-old passenger from England pleaded guilty to one count of flight interference related to an incident that occurred on March 1 while he was flying from London to Newark.
According to an affidavit seen by Business Insider, MacDonald was arguing with his girlfriend when he was asked to lower his voice by the flight purser. Despite initially calming down, MacDonald then began yelling at another crew member in the back galley of the plane. The situation escalated as MacDonald threatened to “mess up the plane” and became verbally and physically aggressive.
The captain decided to divert the plane with 160 passengers on board to Bangor International Airport in Maine, as attempts by the flight crew and two passengers failed to restrain him. As a result of his actions, MacDonald was remanded to custody by a judge in the US District Court of Maine and is set for deportation back to the UK.
In addition to deportation, MacDonald was ordered to pay $20,738, with $20,638 being restitution
