The maximum prison sentence of four months was imposed on two men at Shannon District Court yesterday after they were convicted of being disorderly aboard a Toronto-Rome flight on Tuesday.
The Skyservice flight was diverted to Shannon Airport at a cost of $7,000 because of unruly behaviour by Daniele Patanella (34), from Canada, and Luca Giovanni Pagliari (20), an Italian. They pleaded not guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour aboard an aircraft.
After hearing the evidence, Judge Albert O'Dea said he was thankful he was not aboard the flight which must have been a dreadful experience for other passengers. He added that the penalties for such behaviour, a breach of the Air Navigation and Transport Act, were far too lenient and needed updating.
He heard that the two men had frightened staff and passengers by shouting obscenities, refusing to stay in their seats and continuing to call for drink. He fixed recognisances of £10,000 for each defendant in the event of an appeal, with one third of that amount to be lodged in court.
Patanella said he was visiting his family in Rome. He did not remember drinking duty free while on board the aircraft and denied making a gesture with his hands as if he was carrying a gun. Pagliari, assisted by an interpreter, said he was returning home after a three-month holiday. He had done nothing wrong aboard and remembered everything. He said the version of events as told by Ms Renee Savoye, a flight attendant aboard the Airbus 330, was exaggerated. She said passengers were asleep when Pagliari and Patanella caused a commotion after they were refused drink. They swore and got up from their seats. They banged the walls and slapped the bathroom door, looked out the windows and walked around. There were about 300 passengers aboard.
They proceeded to ask other flight attendants for drink, hissing and trying to get their attention abruptly. They began using swear words and Pagliari was aggressive with the flight manager, punching in the air and making a fist.
Pagliari only spoke Italian but could swear profusely in English.