British national who disrupted United Airlines flight ordered to pay $20K

A British man who pleaded guilty to disrupting a United Airlines flight and forcing it to divert to Maine was ordered by a U.S. court to pay $20,638 in damages to the carrier.

United flight 883 left London’s Heathrow Airport for Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on March 1, but had to divert to Bangor International Airport in Maine after Alexander MacDonald, 30, caused a scene.

While the flight was in U.S. airspace, MacDonald started arguing with his girlfriend and, after being asked to calm down by flight attendants, became belligerent. 

United Airlines said in a statement at the time that the pair “appeared intoxicated,” according to CBS News.

When the chief flight attendant intervened, MacDonald doubled down and said he would “mess up the plane,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine said in a release.

MacDonald was ultimately restrained in flexible handcuffs and the plane went to Maine. MacDonald was arrested once back on the ground, and he pleaded guilty to the charge of interfering with a flight crew on March 22.

Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker sentenced MacDonald to the time served since his arrest, and to paying the $20,638 in restitution to United.

After MacDonald and his girlfriend exited the plane and he was arrested, United flight 883 flew from Bangor to Newark with the 160 other passengers and 10 crew still aboard, according to The New York Post.