Police dragged drunk off jet
OTHER PASSENGERS CHEERED AS AGGRESSIVE MAN IS TAKEN OFF FLIGHT
PASSENGERS on a flight clapped and cheered as an ‘aggressive and threatening’ drunken man was dragged off an easyJet flight, a court heard.
Paul Brady, who had sunk five pints before boarding, was tackled to the ground and arrested after being removed from the flight from Manchester to Copenhagen.
He had become ‘agitated and disruptive’ when he was told there was no more space for his bag in the overhead lockers.
Police were already on patrol as part of Operation Succinct, where uniformed officers are deployed in terminal buildings to crack down on drunken and disruptive passengers during the peak holiday season.
They were called by easyJet cabin crew after Brady, 39, from Tameside, repeatedly swore at them. Officers eventually had to tackle him to the ground in the immigration hall, arrest him and take him away in handcuffs.
Matthew Treece, prosecuting, told Manchester’s magistrates how the drama unfolded when Brady, who ‘smelt strongly of alcohol’ and his partner were last onto flight EZY1987 to the Danish capital Copenhagen.
He said there was no space in the overhead lockers for their bags and he was aggressive when he was told they would have to be put into the hold.
He also had a bottle of vodka he had purchased from duty free and refused to hand it over when asked by the cabin manager. He was eventually told to collect his belongings and leave the flight, but refused and police were called. A PA announcement was put out saying departure would be delayed as it was unsafe to fly with Brady on board and the flight ‘broke out into applause’ Mr Treece said. He added: “The other passengers had clearly had enough and were relieved when they were removed from the aircraft.” Brady’s partner also removed Nmandi Inegbu was from the flight but there were no problems with her behaviour and she was not arrested, Mr Treece added.
Brady, of Medlock Street, Droylsden, pleaded guilty to being drunken on an aircraft and a public order offence of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Magistrates can only impose fines for the first offence and they said they believed this would be ‘insufficient’ so sent him to the crown court for sentence. The maximum sentence is two years in prison.
Nmandi Inegbu, defending said: “He recognises his behaviour was completely unacceptable and wholly inappropriate.
“He recognises, unfortunately, this type of behaviour can spoil the whole holiday experience for other passengers. When he was charged he apologised in person to the officer.”