Man Claims Crew Unresponsive & Rude During Six-Hour Delay

A Ryanair passenger who led a near riot after a six-hour delay got only a hand slap from a Scottish court last week.

John Wilkie says he snapped at the end of a family holiday after sitting in a plane on the ramp. He claims he couldn't get water for his two young children and the crew responded to his questions with rude indifference.

The flight departed Paris enroute to Prestwick when a terror alert forced its diversion to Edinburgh. The incident occurred on the ramp at Edinburgh nearly six hours after the flight's departure from Paris.

Wilkie disobeyed the pilots order to sit down and tried to leave the plane... and he was joined by around 30 other passengers.

Police boarded the plane and arrested Wilkie after the crew were eventually able to get him to settle down. He was charged with ignoring directions from the flight crew.

Wilkie admitted the crime last week at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Sheriff Andrew Lothian issued only an admonishment after receiving dozens of letters from fellow passengers in Wilkie's defense. In addition, he said the charge was ridiculous and Wilkie was owed an apology from Ryanair.

Wilkie told the Scotsman, "I am absolutely disgusted with the way this has been handled - we all understand why these security measures are in place, but this is bordering on hysterical. We were being herded about like cattle, and the attitude of airline staff was unbelievable. If it had just been me and my wife, I would just have got on with it, but we have two kids aged three and five and this was unacceptable. I feel vindicated by the court ruling."

A Ryanair spokesman said, "Ryanair will press charges against any passenger who disobeys the instructions of our crew."

FMI: www.ryanair.com