Intoxicated Nervous Flyer Diverts New York Flight to Dublin
A disruptive passenger caused a New York flight to divert to Dublin, leading to legal consequences and a suspended sentence
New York, Dublin, Zachary Greear, United Airlines, Xanax, Flight Diversion
New York: A 34-year-old American named Zachary Greear caused quite a scene on a flight to New York. His behavior was so unruly that the plane had to divert to Dublin.
He had mixed Xanax with alcohol to deal with his anxiety, but things went south quickly. The flight took off from Amsterdam, and just two hours in, he became disruptive.
Greear ended up urinating in his seat and the aisle, which is just wild. The captain decided to divert the flight over Donegal, dumping a hefty amount of fuel before landing.
When the police arrested him at Dublin airport, he was so intoxicated that he didn’t even know where he was. He later apologized for his actions, saying he was horrified and embarrassed.
In court, he pleaded guilty to several charges, including being intoxicated and causing annoyance on the flight. The judge gave him a two-month suspended sentence but noted his apology and willingness to pay damages.
Initially, he offered $5,000 to cover the costs, but the judge said that wasn’t nearly enough. She told him to come back with double that amount, which shows how serious the situation was.
It’s a reminder of how one person’s actions can impact so many others, from the crew to the passengers. Ryanair even mentioned a similar incident where a flight had to divert due to a passenger’s behavior last April.