A 35-year-old British man has received a 15-month prison sentence after being convicted of assaulting another passenger on a flight, an incident that forced the plane to make an emergency landing in Thessaloniki.
A Greek court found the man guilty of causing dangerous bodily harm and disturbing order on an aircraft. The sentence was converted to a fine of €10 per day, and the man was released from custody pending an appeal.
The incident occurred late Tuesday night on a flight from Manchester, England, to Antalya, Turkey.
The defendant told the court the dispute began over a reclined seat and that he only pushed, not punched, the 41-year-old victim.
He admitted to having consumed two beers.
After the plane landed in Thessaloniki, the injured passenger was examined by a medical team and cleared to continue his journey.
The flight later resumed its route to Antalya.