An air passenger, Andris Ekis, has been fined and convicted for offensive conduct after refusing to stay seated during the approach to Dublin Airport.
The incident escalated as the pilot contemplated aborting the landing due to Ekis’s disregard for instructions from the cabin crew.
On the flight, Ekis had been asleep for three hours and when he woke up he felt the need to use the toilet, his solicitor Murrough O’Rourke said.
He accepted “we all know” to stay seated on planes when told to do so.
Fortunately, the aircraft did not have to carry out any special procedures, Mr O’Rourke said.
Ekis insisted he was not smoking in the toilet. District court Judge Treasa Kelly fined him €300 at Dublin District Court.
