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 had 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 sitting behind him by kissing her arm, rubbing his hand up and down her thigh and grabbing her buttocks during the flight from Shannon to Boston on November 15 last year, the Ennis District Court in Ireland was told yesterday.

The young girl reported the incident to the cabin crew at 3:30 PM that day, an hour after takeoff. The captain was then informed and the captain ‘made the decision to return the flight to Shannon for the safety of everyone on board’, at a 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 in Shannon before departing for the US.

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

When the Aer Lingus pilot heard of the alleged attack, he turned the plane back towards Shannon (file image)

According to Det Garda O’Sullivan, the man ‘made no response’ after being warned.

His lawyer, John Casey, said the suspect had not applied for legal aid in the case.

Judge Alec Gabbett limited reporting on the identities of the alleged victim and attacker, moving the case to a higher court where harsher sentences were available for the man.

The judge released the suspect on bail until November 27, when he will return to Ennis District Court for a further hearing.