A man who refused to follow instructions not to use the toilet during a plane’s landing approach at Dublin Airport has been convicted of offensive conduct and fined €300.
The court heard that Andris Ekis, 42, defied cabin crew orders to remain seated as the aircraft prepared to land on March 2. Despite being repeatedly warned, Ekis left his seat to use the toilet while the “fasten seatbelt” sign was illuminated.
The captain was informed of the situation and considered aborting the landing and placing the plane in a holding pattern due to safety concerns. Upon exiting the toilet, crew members smelled smoke and discovered a cigarette butt inside the cubicle.
Ekis, a father of four from Burnaby Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to offensive conduct on board an aircraft.
Dublin District Court heard that while the plane landed safely, Ekis’ actions posed a potential risk to passengers and crew.
In addition to the €300 fine, Judge Treasa Kelly sentenced Ekis to two days in jail if the fine was not paid immediately.
Ekis was jailed for four months and banned from driving for six years following motoring offences.
He was caught driving without insurance twice in Dublin — once on September 24, 2023, when he refused to provide a sample to gardaí, and again on December 28, 2023.
The court heard that Ekis, originally from Latvia, had lived in Ireland for a decade, developed a heroin addiction, and was unemployed.
“It seems you have no regard for court orders, and you don’t take instructions from cabin crew when told not to use the facilities,” Judge Kelly remarked during sentencing.
