COMPO FOR JET TERROR.

Byline: RAY MANAGH

IRISH holidaymakers are to be paid thousands of euro in compensation after a near-collision turned their trip home into the flight from hell.

Traumatised passengers took claims against Futura Airlines over a 90-minute ordeal that included a cabin blackout, bangs and flashes and a terrifying descent.

It is believed the compensation claims of some passengers on the flight from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, were settled in the region of from EUR10,000 to EUR15,000 and costs in each case for the psychiatric damage the serious malfunction caused them.

Barrister Paul McGarry told the Circuit Civil Court yesterday: "The Futura Airlines jet was involved in what was described as a near miss and almost crashed on its return."

Mr McGarry told Judge Matthew Deery, that following the near mid-air collision the plane seriously malfunctioned resulting in a series of bangs and flashes which caused a middleof-the-night cabin blackout above 30,000ft.

He said the plane was plunged into darkness and passengers endured 90 minutes of severe trauma, anxiety and shock as it burned off fuel in a terrifying descent.

It finally touched down at Tenerife where passengers were allowed to disembark.

The 100-plus passengers had booked their package trips through Panorama Holiday Group Ltd whose headquarters are at College Green, Dublin.

Mr McGarry told Court that claims for up to EUR38,000 compensation each had been taken by passengers from the North.

The mid-air drama in 2009 might have remained secret but for the fact that two-yearold, Sonnie Boyce, of Cullingtree Road, Belfast, was among the passengers.

Through his parents Brenda and John, his claim for damages as a minor had to be approved by the court and the story of the mishap had to be outlined before a judge.

The EUR2,500 compensation that Panorama Holiday Group offered Sonnie was approved.