Two of the four people arrested at Shannon airport following alleged air rage incidents aboard three transatlantic flights yesterday have appeared in court in Co Clare.
Volodymyr Litovkin, (43) and his wife Irynn (39) were arrested after their Martinair flight from Amsterdam to Cuba touched down yesterday afternoon after the crew requested permission to divert to Shannon.
The pair, who had been drinking on board, had to be overpowered by crew members after they persistently refused to return to their seats.
At Miltown Malbay District Court today Mr Litovkin was given a one month suspended sentence and fined a total of €700 after pleading guilty to three charges arising out of the incident. His wife was given a one month suspended sentence after also pleading guilty.
In the second incident, Delta Airlines flight from Istanbul to New York JFK International Airport also diverted to Shannon following an incident involving a male passenger who was overpowered by US marshalls travelling on the plane.
It is understood the man, a 41-year-old Iranian who was travelling with a doctor, fell ill and became distressed. He will not face charges and is expected to resume his journey today.
In the third incident, a Thomas Cook charter flight from Manchester to Toronto also diverted from its original course and landed in Co Clare after crew members observed a passenger "acting suspiciously". There were 188 passengers on board.
A 41-year-old Pakistani man was arrested. He was admitted to hospital this morning after becoming ill in his cell in Shannon garda station this morning.
Passengers were accommodated in local hotels overnight.