A United Airlines passenger has been charged with reckless behavior and fined $10,000 for allegedly urinating in his seat during a flight that had to be diverted to Dublin, Ireland.
Zachary Greear, 34, from New York City, was given a two-month suspended sentence, a €5,000 ($5,154) fine, and ordered to donate an additional €5,000 to charity... Continue reading here ▶
This came after he caused a disruption on a United Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Newark, N.J., on Monday, January 13. The Irish Court Service confirmed the details to PEOPLE.
Greear mixed the tranquilizer Xanax with alcohol to ease his nerves about flying. Two hours into the flight, he began acting “unruly,” urinated in his seat, and even down the aisle. Police said his actions caused the flight to dump over $30,000 worth of fuel.
Greear faced three charges for his behavior: disturbing passengers, being severely intoxicated, and acting in a threatening or abusive way. After being asked by the crew to stop his behavior, he continued to act erratically.
He was arrested at Dublin Airport, where police said he “couldn’t understand where he was.” Greear pleaded guilty to the charges under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.
Judge Michéle Finan said during the hearing that the punishment was not enough to cover the damage he caused. The judge added that Greear would have to return to court on Tuesday, January 14, and face “double that.” She also emphasized the fear and disruption Greear caused to the pilot, passengers, and airline staff, who had to dump fuel and unexpectedly land the plane in Dublin.
