NORTH EAST holidaymakers were this week forced to land at an airport some 1,100 miles away after "disruptive" passengers caused havoc.
A Jet2 flight returning to Newcastle Airport was forced to stop at Porto in Portugal after departing Gran Canaria on Sunday.
The flight, which saw passengers "kept captive" for several hours while the authorities dealt with the incident, did not resume until Monday evening.
Read more: Plane passengers on 'flight from hell' after Jet2 diverts due to 'problem males'
The incident has since been condemned by furious passengers while the airline has said it will not "hesitate" to recover costs as a result of the diversion.
But what can end up forcing a plane to divert? and how much does this actually cost?
The UK Civil Aviation Authority, also known as the CAA, has explained the shocking examples of unruly behaviour that can result in a diversion.
Read more: Jet2 flight to Newcastle diverts to Portugal because of 'disruptive passenger'
From being excessively drunk to swearing, bad behaviour can land you a fine of thousands of pounds and even jail.
Examples of unacceptable behaviour
- Drug/alcohol intoxication
- Refusal to allow security checks
- Disobeying safety or security instructions
- Threatening, abusive or insulting words
- Endangering the safety of aircraft or other person
- Acting in a disruptive manner
What the CAA has said
The UK Civil Aviation Authority said disruptive passenger behaviour is one of the "main reasons" for aircraft diversions.
It said disruptive behaviour in-flight or on the ground can affect the safety and the safety of fellow passengers.
The punishment for disruption varies depending on the severity, said the CAA as it revealed a cts of drunkenness on an aircraft face a maximum fine of £5,000 and two years in prison.
Meanwhile, the prison sentence for endangering the safety of an aircraft is up to five years.
The price of a diversion can cost up to £80,000
Disruptive passengers may also be asked to reimburse the airline with the cost of the diversion.
Diversion costs typically range from £10,000 - £80,000 depending on the size of the aircraft and where it diverts to.
The CAA maintains it is working with airlines, airports and the Department for Transport to identify and develop new strategies that can minimise the frequency of these occurrences.
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