- A 57-year-old passenger allegedly assaulted a teenager on an Aer Lingus flight to Boston
- The captain turned the plane around at a cost of €28,213 (£23,490) when he learned of the incident.
The captain of an Aer Lingus flight from Ireland to the United States turned the plane around after being told a passenger sexually assaulted a teenager mid-flight, a court heard.
The passenger, a 57-year-old man from County Galway, allegedly assaulted the 16-year-old girl who was sitting behind him by kissing her arm, rubbing her thigh up and down with his hand and grabbing her buttocks on the flight from Shannon. to Boston on November 15 last year, the Ennis District Court in Ireland was told yesterday.
The young woman reported the incident to the cabin crew at 3:30 p.m. that day, one hour after takeoff. The captain was then informed and “made the decision to return the flight to Shannon for the safety of everyone on board” at a cost of €28,213 (£23,490), according to Detective Garda Ruth O’Sullivan.
Detectives took statements from the girl and her family after the plane landed in Shannon, before taking off again for the United States.
The man was arrested and charged with two crimes following the incident.
The alleged assault took place on an Aer Lingus flight from Shannon, Ireland, to Boston, USA (file image)
Upon learning of the alleged assault, the Aer Lingus pilot turned the plane back to Shannon (File Image)
According to Detective Garda O’Sullivan, the man “did not respond” after being cautioned.
His lawyer, John Casey, said the defendant was not seeking legal aid in this case.
Judge Alec Gabbett restricted information about the identities of the alleged victim and the attacker, and transferred the case to a higher court where more serious sentences were imposed for the man.
The judge released the defendant on bail until November 27, when he will return to Ennis District Court for another hearing.