A ‘drunk’ oil rig worker was forced off a flight by police officers after turning aggressive when asked to move from his business class seat for being too loud.
Shaun Hewitt, 33, used his inheritance money to upgrade his seat on the Emirates flight from Newcastle International Airport on December 12 last year.
The off-shore worker was flying to Thailand for work but had ‘sampled a little bit too much alcohol’ before boarding, and turned aggressive when asked to switch seats after his fellow passengers complained about his behaviour.
His shouting and swearing made cabin crew feel ‘uncomfortable’ and the plane returned to the terminal just seconds before it was due to take-off, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard.
Hewitt’s ‘angry behaviour’ escalated further when police boarded the flight, as he told officers ‘F*** off, I have done nothing, you f*****g divvy, move out the way you f*****g a******e’.
The defendant claimed to only have had ‘two pints’ before his limbs were restrained and he was arrested.
Hewitt, of Prince Edward Road, in South Shields, appeared in the dock this week to plead guilty to being drunk on an aircraft.
Prosecutor, Lesley Burgess, said Hewitt was asked to move because a fellow passenger had complained of him being too loud.
Ms Burgess continued: ‘He refused. He was swearing and saying he was not moving.
‘He was very angry and the crew were uncomfortable with him flying. The aircraft had moved right up to where it would take off from but then came back to the terminal.’
The court heard that Hewitt then shouted the abuse when police boarded the flight and arrested him.
Jason Smith, defending, said Hewitt had been travelling to do some off-shore work in Thailand.
Mr Smith added: ‘Two weeks before this, his grandma died and he received some inheritance. He was upset about that still.
‘He used some of the money to purchase an upgrade on the flight out to Thailand. He accepts he probably sampled a little bit too much alcohol before he got on board.’
District Judge Kate Meek said that the magistrates’ court only had powers to fine someone for an offence of being drunk in an aircraft and, if it warranted more, such as a community order, it had to be committed to the crown court.
Deciding to send him to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence, the judge said: ‘You caused a delay to the flight and a significant delay.
‘You behaved in the way you did with other passengers there, while they’re in a position where they cannot get off the plane.’
Hewitt was released on conditional bail to next appear at the crown court on April 7.
His court appearance comes after footage was released of the bizarre moment a passenger began screaming about ‘the Lord Jesus’ as he was restrained on board a flight to the Canary Islands, startling British tourists.
Footage captured aboard flight LS307 and since posted to TikTok showed a man shouting loudly from his seat as passengers tried to intervene.
‘Get off,’ the man appeared to call out as people gathered around a seat to restrain him.
Jet2 crew on the March 1 flight from Belfast to Fuerteventura were praised for going ‘above and beyond’ to deal with the fracas.