
A United Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Newark took an unexpected detour when a passenger’s cocktail of Xanax and alcohol led to chaos in the sky.
At a Glance
- Zachary Greear, 34, mixed Xanax with alcohol on a United Airlines flight
- He urinated in his seat and across the aisle, forcing an emergency landing in Dublin
- The incident resulted in a $30,000 fuel dump and a $10,000 fine for Greear
- Greear pleaded guilty and committed to donating $5,000 to charity
- The case highlights ongoing concerns about alcohol consumption on flights
Intoxicated Passenger Causes Mid-Air Chaos
A routine United Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Newark turned into a nightmare for passengers and crew when 34-year-old American climate analyst Zachary Greear’s ill-advised mixture of Xanax and alcohol led to a series of disturbing events. Greear’s actions forced the aircraft to make an unscheduled landing in Dublin, resulting in significant disruptions and financial losses.
According to reports, Greear consumed an alcoholic beverage mixed with Xanax during the flight. This dangerous combination led to extreme intoxication and erratic behavior. The situation escalated when Greear urinated in his seat and across the aisle, causing distress to nearby passengers.
Just imagine…
Emergency Landing and Legal Consequences
The severity of Greear’s actions left the flight crew with no choice but to divert the aircraft to Dublin. Upon landing, Irish police found Greear in a state of severe intoxication. “He couldn’t understand where he was,” officials reported. The unscheduled stop resulted in a costly $30,000 fuel dump, adding to the airline’s financial burden.
“Can you imagine the fear and trauma he caused to a pilot who is trying to manage people safely on his aircraft, to passengers, to employees of the airline who have to dump fuel and turn around a flight and land in a jurisdiction they never expected to be in?” Judge Michéle Finan said.
Greear faced legal consequences for his actions in Dublin district court. He pleaded guilty to intoxication, threatening behavior, and causing annoyance on an aircraft under Ireland’s Air Navigation and Transport Act. The court ordered him to pay a fine of 10,000 euros (approximately $10,308) to cover damages to United Airlines.
In court, Greear expressed deep remorse for his actions. He offered his “most sincere apology,” acknowledging the distress he caused to fellow passengers and crew members. In an attempt to make amends, Greear committed to donating $5,000 to charitable organizations.
“The behavior was appalling,” Judge Michéle Finan stated, emphasizing the traumatic impact on everyone involved. However, the judge also noted Greear’s clean criminal record and his efforts to take responsibility for his actions when determining the fine.
This incident has reignited discussions about alcohol consumption on flights and in airports. Some airlines, including Ryanair, have called for limits on drinks served at airport bars to prevent similar incidents. A Ryanair Spokesperson highlighted the dangers “when disruptive passengers threaten aircraft safety and force them to divert.”
There’s always someone who has to ruin the fun for everyone else…