Ryanair has praised a French court after it handed down suspended prison sentences and hefty fines to two unruly passengers who forced one of the carrier's flights into a costly diversion. The incident occurred on a Ryanair flight from London to Ibiza in May 2025, prompting the flight crew to divert the aircraft to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). The Toulouse Criminal Court issued 10-month suspended sentences to both men and a collective fine of over $11,800 (€10,000).
The financial penalty will help offset the significant operational costs of the unscheduled diversion, which typically runs into the tens of thousands of dollars. Ryanair has also confirmed that both individuals are now subject to a permanent, group-wide lifetime flight ban.
Legal action was taken against the duo after their behavior on board Flight FR9251 on May 17, 2025. This flight was from London Stansted Airport (STN) to Ibiza Airport (IBZ) and had 184 passengers onboard, along with six crew members.
According to Ryanair , at some point during the flight, the two men became abusive towards fellow passengers and ignored instructions from the crew. Their conduct became so disruptive that the flight crew decided to divert the plane to Toulouse, where it was met by French police.
The duo were taken into custody by authorities, while more than 180 passengers would arrive in Ibza at a significant delay due to their actions.
Ryanair spokesperson Jade Kirwan said,
The increase in flight diversions highlights the need for airlines and authorities to implement effective measures to prevent unruly passenger behavior.
