Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, is making headlines after filing a lawsuit for €15,000 (approximately $15,400) against a passenger accused of disrupting a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in April of last year.

The legal proceedings, reported on CNN and The Guardian, were initiated due to the passenger’s actions that forced the aircraft to divert to Porto, Portugal, resulting in a significant delay for the 160 passengers onboard. According to Ryanair, this diversion caused unnecessary disruption and led to expenses for overnight accommodations and additional passenger costs.

The airline described the behavior of the passenger as “inexcusable” and noted that the decision to pursue legal recourse marks a shift in their strategy towards handling unruly passenger conduct. “We plan to pursue civil action against disruptive passengers as a move towards eliminating disruptive passenger behaviour,” stated a spokesperson for Ryanair. This lawsuit is noted as the first of its kind in Ireland for the airline, signaling its commitment to strict policies regarding passenger conduct.

Ryanair’s decision aligns with its broader zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behaviors, aiming to ensure that all passengers can travel without interruptions. In a recent example, the airline pointed to other incidents involving unruly passengers, emphasizing its resolve to combat such behaviors. The spokesperson added, “It is unacceptable that passengers—many of whom are heading away with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing summer holiday—are suffering unnecessary disruption due to one individual’s actions.”

This development comes amidst a backdrop of increasing instances of passenger misconduct within the aviation industry, prompting airlines worldwide to take definitive actions against such behavior.