Drunk Brit forced Jet2 plane to divert after abusing cabin and kids on board and calling female passenger a fat b****
Leeds Crown Court heard how Qureshi began ordered two bottles of vodka, a bottle of champagne and a "wife beater"
A man who became so drunk and abusive on a plane he caused the flight to be diverted has been jailed.
Toseef Qureshi threatened and abused cabin crew while on a Jet2 flight from Leeds-Bradford Airport, West Yorkshire, to Turkey - causing so much concern the captain took the decision to land in Budapest, Hungary, as he feared for the safety of staff.
Leeds Crown Court heard how Qureshi began requesting alcohol soon after the plane took off and ordered two bottles of vodka, a bottle of champagne and a "wife beater".
Crew members took this to mean he wanted a Stella Artois.
Prosecuting, Dave Mckay told the court the 35-year-old initially shared his drinks with people around him before eventually getting to his feet and becoming abusive.
Mr Mckay said: "Mr Qureshi swore and shouted: 'You need to listen to me. I deserve more champagne. I have been good. When am I going to get this champagne?'"
He called a passenger a “fat b****” and said to a child: “What are you looking at? You are not even mine.”
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He continued to be abusive before waving cash around and saying: "Get the police on here. I will pay my way out."
It was during this aggressive behaviour, the captain took the decision to divert to Hungary.
Qureshi refused to take his seat for landing and accused one of the cabin crew members of being racist - before eventually being escorted from the aircraft by police after landing.
The plane then continued to Turkey but was two-and-a-half hours late and cost Jet2 £6,500.
Mitigating Glen Parsons said his client had committed the offence as he had a phobia of flying and had got drunk before getting on the aircraft.
Mr Parsons said: "He is extremely embarrassed and ashamed of his conduct."
Qureshi, from Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to interfering with a cabin crew member's duties and was sentenced to four months.
Last month a drunken mum with a baby and a lad aged two were kicked off a British Airways flight after she demanded more alcohol.
Passengers on BA 2731 from Tenerife to London Gatwick were held up for two hours while the ranting woman and five other adults were removed.