Drunken rage leads to five year flying ban

flights.monarch.co.uk

A 48-year-old former postman, whose drunken rage forced a flight from the UK to Spain to return to Gatwick airport after he threatened to kill everyone on board, was banned from flying for a period of five years.

Robert Russell, who was made redundant from his job with the Royal Mail, was on a flight to Malaga was restrained by cabin crew members and passengers when he tried to open the emergency exit at 30,000 feet.

The man had consumed numerous shots of vodka and pints of lager at the departure lounge at Gatwick Airport as he waited for the Monarch Airlines flight to depart on 15 October 2008.

On Friday, Brighton Crown Court was told how Russell reeked of alcohol on boarding the plane and had to be told to stay seated after verbally abusing a female member of the cabin crew.

The court also heard how Russell attempted to fondle a female crew member as he said to her loudly: “Oi blondie. Come and sit here so I can stroke you.”

A concerned passenger got involved and Russell threatened to kill him and “all the passengers on board” before attempting to open the emergency door.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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