Pilot on US-bound jet ‘turned around over the Atlantic and returned to Ireland after being told passenger had sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl sitting behind him mid flight’

The captain of an Aer Lingus flight from Ireland to the US turned the plane around after being told a male passenger sexually assaulted a teenager mid-flight, a court has heard. 

The male passenger, a 57-year-old from County Galway, allegedly assaulted the 16-year-old girl who was sitting behind him by kissing her arm, rubbing up and down her thigh with his hand and grabbing her buttocks on the flight from Shannon to Boston on November 15 last year, Ennis District Court in Ireland was told yesterday. 

The young girl reported the incident to cabin crew at 3.30pm that day, an hour after it took off. The captain was then informed, and the captain ‘took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon for the safety of all on board’ at the cost of €28,213 (£23,490), according to Det Garda Ruth O’Sullivan. 

Detectives took statements from the girl and her family after the plane landed back in Shannon, before they took off again for the US. 

The man was arrested and charged with two crimes following the incident. 

The alleged assault took place on an Aer Lingus flight from Shannon, Ireland, to Boston, US (File image)

Upon learning of the alleged assault, the Aer Lingus pilot turned the plane around back to Shannon (File image) 

According to Det Garda O’Sullivan, the man made ‘no reply’ after he was cautioned. 

His solicitor, John Casey, said the accused man was not applying for legal aid in this case. 

Judge Alec Gabbett restricted reporting on the identities of the alleged victim and attacker, and moved the case to a higher court where more serious penalties were available for the man. 

The judge remanded the accused man on bail to November 27, when he will return to Ennis District Court for another hearing.