Airline passenger news and views

A drunk female passenger who was aboard an easyJet flight to the Greek Islands forced an airline pilot to abandon a landing at Manchester Airport because she was fighting with cabin crew and passengers.

On the outward bound flight from Manchester The passenger who suffers from a phobia of flying, had tried to cope with the flight with the aid of alcohol.

The passenger in question had been drinking before boarding the easyJet flight back to the UK, and continued to do so when she had four airline-size bottles of wine during the trip back to Britain.

Following all the consumption she begun to harass staff around her as a result of her fear of flying.

Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was then told how 'the passenger's'disposition became untenable for staff.

Despite being invited to sit with cabin crew at the rear of the aircraft because they knew of her condition, She then began to harass staff as the plane prepared to land

She was, as a result, as the plane prepared to land, asked to go back to her own seat for safety reasons, but she refused to do so.

The Prosecutor of the case, said both crew and fellow passengers tried to remonstrate with her, but she became aggressive and abusive.

After several passengers tried unsuccessfully to intervene and were met with physical and verbal abuse, the pilot decided it was unsafe to land until she was properly seated and aborted the landing.

The defence went on to say that, the case was exceptional, because of her being diagnosed and acute fear of flying.

He said that she travelled by air because it was the only practical way to get to and from Greece. Apparently, cabin crew were aware of her fears and had tried to keep her calm throughout the flight, although I am not sure 'plying' her with alcohol was necessarily the right thing to do!

The passenger in question who pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering an aircraft, and two offences of assault, was told by judge Jonathan Geake:

'Normally, immediate sentences of imprisonment follow from such behaviour.

'The travelling public are entitled to know that the courts will not tolerate violent behaviour on an aircraft which can endanger the plane, passengers and crew.'

He continued: it was clear her actions had been reckless, but said she had a genuine phobia of flying.

He went on to give her an eight-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

She will also have to take part in a medical programme aimed at helping her, and carry out 60 hours of community work.

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