A passenger on a flight from Tenerife to Gatwick has been arrested and charged with abusing his own family and assaulting three off-duty police officers after downing nearly a litre of rum before boarding the plane, as reported by Sussex Police.
The 36-year-old man named as Edgars Emsins became so rowdy that he had to be restrained from other passengers on his flight from Tenerife to the UK on March 14th. Police say he had bought a bottle of Captain Morgan's at the airport which he drank before getting onboard.
During the flight, he became abusive to his family and members of the cabin crew after drinking a 'large amount' of spirits, and three off-duty police officers who were also travelling on the flight, had to help restrain him.
However, he started shouting and tried to headbutt the officers, and was arrested when the plane landed at the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport.
The next day, at Crawley Magistrates Court, Emsins admitted three counts of assault and one count of being drunk on board an aircraft. He was sentenced to a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £85 costs plus a £154 victim surcharge.
Detective Sergeant Ian Warncken from Gatwick CID of Sussex Police, said: 'Emsins' behaviour was completely unacceptable. “Cabin crew and other passengers should not have to put up with drunk and abusive behaviour on board an aircraft. The three off-duty officers showed great professionalism to safely detain him so that he could be immediately arrested.”
“This case is a warning about the dangers of consuming alcohol before boarding flights, and demonstrates our determination to catch offenders who are drunk on board.”
