A Kerry businessman who forced a 747 passenger aircraft to make an emergency stop in Canada is to face a deportation hearing next Tuesday. He was fined $2,000 and has to repay British Airways $15,000 for the cost of the diverted flight.
David McAuliffe (38), a senior manager at Intel Ireland, is staying with members of the Irish Association of Manitoba, who have put him in contact with his family in Ireland. Mr McAuliffe threatened crew and attacked a passenger while flying on Sunday night from London to Phoenix, Arizona to an Intel training seminar. He pleaded guilty on Thursday to causing a disturbance on a plane and failing to obey the aircraft crew.
The president of the Irish Association of Manitoba, Shannon O'Brien, said Mr McAuliffe was "very, very embarrassed" and was keeping a low profile while staying with a Winnipeg member of the association. "He's doing fine and he's in pretty good spirits," Mr O'Brien said. "He's trying to stay off the radar and stay out of the public eye."
Mr O'Brien added it was "asinine" that Mr McAuliffe had to stay in Canada for the deportation hearing on Tuesday when all he wanted to do was go home to his family in Ireland.
On Thursday, the court heard that Mr McAuliffe went on a 24-hour drinking binge before his flight and had three single serving bottles of wine on board before an air hostess refused to give him any more. He later left his seat and started shouting before slapping one passenger and threatening to kill his wife. Another Intel manager was unable to restrain him. The crew eventually grappled with him and handcuffed him to his seat.
His defence lawyer told the court Mr McAuliffe had a severe fear of flying following a dangerous landing in England five years ago in which the plane bounced off the runway. He was fined $1,000 on each of the two charges and has to repay British Airways $15,000 for the cost of the diverted flight.