An Irishman appeared in a Madrid court yesterday after his aggressive behaviour forced the pilot of a Boeing 737 aircraft to divert the flight and land in Madrid.
Airline officials say the regular Air Europa flight from Malaga to Dublin had just taken off at 9.45 a.m. on Sunday morning when a 24-year-old Irishman, who appeared to have been drinking, became abusive and began a fight with several members of his family and fellow passengers.
When he refused to sit down, the pilot was forced to divert the flight to Madrid and contacted the control tower requesting landing permission.
The man was led away by Civil Guards, who were waiting for the aircraft on the tarmac when it arrived at 11 a.m. The remaining passengers, who did not disembark in Madrid, left for Dublin one hour later.
The man spent the night in police custody before appearing before a duty magistrate in a Madrid court yesterday morning.
He was released on provisional liberty and will be charged with causing a fracas on a commercial flight. Although the case will come up for trial at some time, the man is believed to have left Spain to return to Dublin.