Drunken passenger who demanded air hostess flash for him on Ibiza Jet2 flight hit with £8k bill after jet made emergency landing in France
Liam McKeown, from Cumbernauld, hurled foul-mouthed abuse at staff as he and a group of pals jetted off to the Spanish party island
A BRIT holidaymaker who caused his flight to make an emergency landing after he demanded an air hostess flash for him has been hit with a £8,000 bill for his drunken antics.
Liam McKeown, 25, hurled foul-mouthed abuse at Jet2 staff as he and a group of pals jetted off to the Spanish party island of Ibiza.
His conduct was so out of control on the flight that an off-duty police officer had to become involved to try and calm him down.
And when her attempts failed the captain made an emergency landing in France to have McKeown hauled off by French police.
He spent eight hours in custody in Toulouse before being released on to the streets of France with his luggage and his passport.
It took him four days to get back to his home in Cumbernauld and the airline is now suing him for over £5,200 due to the cost of the diversion.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Hazel Emmerson told the court that the drama unfolded on the 7am flight which was "was fully laden with passengers" on Saturday, July 7 last year.
The prosecutor said McKeown's disruptive behaviour became worse after he was served with the letter telling him how to behave and directed his aggression towards a female air hostess, who can't be named for legal reasons.
Miss Emmerson explained: "He proceeded to shout a verbal tirade of abuse, such as, 'f*** off, square go, I'll do you in' and 'I'm gonna bounce all over your head, get your t**s out, show us your m***e'.
"He threw the pro forma [the letter they'd given him about his behaviour] back at the witness."
The captain was made aware of what was happening and made an in-flight announcement reminding passengers of how they were expected to behave.
And an off-duty police officer became aware of what was happening - and waded in to try and help.
Miss Emmerson explained: "He was still shouting and swearing at the cabin crew, she identified herself as a police officer and instructed the accused to desist and take his seat.
"He failed to do so and his aggression was increasing, repeatedly striking the windows and overhead cabins.
"The police officer used an open-handed officer safety technique to restrain the accused within his seat.
"The captain directed the aircraft to Toulouse in France for the accused to be removed from the flight.
"Upon landing the aircraft at Toulouse the accused was removed from the flight by French police officers."
Defence solicitor Peter Galletly said McKeown was a first offender who lives with his parents and works as a tiler's labourer and had written to Jet2 to apologise for his antics.
The lawyer explained: "In every other respect he is a law-abiding citizen.
"The flight was due to leave at 7am, he had travelled from Cumbernauld with a group of friends and they were going on a group holiday.
"As it happens, alcohol had been consumed before he embarked on to the flight.
"Mr McKeown is the first to admit that his conduct upon entering the plane, it was appalling.
"He was drunk and that was apparent to the cabin crew who were allowing passengers on to the flight.
"One of the cabin crew made it known to the Captain before the plane even left that Mr McKeown was on the plane and was drunk.
"He clearly chose to get in to that condition and go on to the flight.
"The easy way to have dealt with this would be not to have allowed him on in the first place.
"He realises his behaviour was wholly unacceptable."
Sheriff Vincent Canavan was shocked to learn that he was unable to jail McKeown for his conduct on the flight as he had been charged with breaching airway regulations which have a fine as the maximum punishment.
He told Paisley Sheriff Court: "If it was committed on dry land he'd be going to jail.
"This was reprehensible behaviour."
McKeown's dad, who had gone to court with him, sat with his head in his hands as the details of his son's antics and the financial burden upon him were read to the court.
McKeown was fined £1,600 on each charge, making a total fine of £3,200.
Added to the £5,200 he has to pay Jet2, his total bill for his drunken rampage stands at £8,400.
He will pay his £3,200 fine at a rate of £50-per-week.
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Phil Ward, Managing Director of Jet2 said today: "This shows that there are serious consequences if you act in an aggressive fashion onboard an aircraft.
"Mr McKeown’s actions caused inconvenience and distress for other customers as well as our crew, and as a family friendly airline carrying millions of holidaymakers, many of whom are families, we simply will not tolerate this on our flights.
"We hope that Mr McKeown has learned an important lesson and that the consequences of his actions send out a strong message that this behaviour will not be tolerated."
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