Dutch Passenger Fined €2,760 for Sparking Mid-Air Seat Dispute and Flight Diversion

The events took place on August 8, 2024. The man, from Utrecht, had left his seat to sit next to an acquaintance on a more expensive seat. He refused to pay the surcharge or return to his seat, despite repeated requests from the cabin crew. The altercation escalated when another passenger got involved, prompting the captain to turn the plane around towards Schiphol airport, while the plane was flying over Belgium.

Upon their return to the Netherlands, the two passengers involved were disembarked and questioned. While the prosecution against the second passenger was ultimately dropped, the 32-year-old man was summoned to court last week. The judge imposed a 500 euro fine and ordered him to pay 2,260 euros in damages to the airline.

The incident had sparked an online debate in the Netherlands at the time. Some internet users had questioned the crew’s handling of the situation, while others claimed that the plane was not full and the situation could have been handled differently.