Drunk holidaymaker who downed six double vodkas before boarding then shouted vile abuse at cabin crew on Mexico-to-Manchester flight until he had to be handcuffed is jailed for six months
A drunk holidaymaker who shouted vile abuse at cabin crew on a flight from Mexico to Manchester has been jailed.
A drunk holidaymaker who shouted vile abuse at cabin crew on a flight from Mexico to Manchester has been jailed.
During the eight-hour flight, Alexander Rogers, 40, subjected airline staff to a torrent of abuse, calling one crew member an arab b**** and pushing another on the shoulder.
The Rochdale scaffolder, who admitted to having six double vodkas before boarding, was then handcuffed to his seat by two off-duty officers on board the flight who were forced to intervene.
However, this failed to stem the deluge of obscenities which Mr Rogers directed towards airline staff, as he went on to shout: You can’t f******’ cuff me. Black Lives Matter. I am not a terrorist. I am not a danger to the plane. I am not a terrorist.
A Manchester Crown Court judge heard from prosecutors how the planes pilot was almost forced to divert the flight over Mr Rogers behaviour.
Whilst sentencing the self-employed scaffolder, the judge labelled his actions quite appalling and said that everyone on board was a victim as they could not go anywhere at 36,000 feet.
Alexander Rogers (pictured) pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft, to racially or religiously-aggravated harassment and assault by beating
During the sentencing hearing, Keira Shaw, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Rogers had been flying home from Cancun in premium seats with his partner and that two hours into the journey, an altercation between Mr Rogers and another passenger occurred.
Mr Rogers was alleged to have kicked the seat in front of him and put his feet through the gap between seats. He was also heard threatening to knock out his fellow passenger.
Upon becoming aware of the incident, flight crew escorted the 40-year-old to the galley row at the back of the plane, with Mr Rogers screaming and shouting during the process.
As the flight continued, the court heard how Mr Rogers continued his abusive and confrontational behaviour towards staff and demanded more food and water be brought to him.
It was at this point that the off-duty police officers on board offered their assistance, before Rogers stood up again and pushed a member of the crew whilst trying to block her path.
Despite Mr Rogers girlfriend coming down to the back of the plane in an attempt to calm him down, he was ultimately handcuffed to his chair after he threw his shoe into the rows of worried passengers ahead of him.
Mr Rogers was on board a TUI airlines flight from Mexico to Manchester when he became abusive towards cabin crew after an altercation with other passengers
Following the TUI flights arrival back at Manchester International Airport, Mr Rogers was arrested.
He would later tell officers that he was a nervous flier and couldnt remember large parts of the flight.
Ms Shaw went on to tell the court that Mr Rogers had accepted he was intoxicated on the flight and insisted had he not consumed so much alcohol, that he wouldnt have behaved in such an abusive manner.
In a statement provided to the court, the flights captain described Mr Rogers behaviour as physically abusive, obscene and lewd.
The scaffolders defence told the court that Mr Rogers was genuinely remorseful and ashamed... and accepts full responsibility.
Having pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft, to racially or religiously-aggravated harassment and assault by beating, Mr Rogers was sentenced to six months in prison by Judge Paul Lawton.
