UK national given suspended jail sentence after flight diverted to Thessaloniki
A British national was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for three years, after his behavior aboard a commercial flight prompted an unscheduled landing at Thessaloniki's international airport, Greek authorities said.
The incident occurred on a flight traveling from Manchester, United Kingdom, to Antalya, Turkiye.
According to police, the passenger appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and behaved aggressively during the flight, leading the aircraft's captain to divert the plane to Thessaloniki International Airport "Makedonia" late on Monday.
Authorities said the man initially acknowledged during the preliminary investigation that he had consumed alcohol. However, during court proceedings, he withdrew that statement and testified through an interpreter that he had not been intoxicated, claiming instead that he had merely been "speaking loudly."
Police officers boarded the aircraft after it landed in Thessaloniki and arrested the passenger. Following the completion of the arrest procedures, the aircraft resumed its journey to Antalya.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. Greek authorities did not disclose the passenger's identity.
