Jet2 flight from Fuerteventura forced to land in Ireland due to drunk passenger
A Jet2 passenger whose drunken behaviour forced a flight to divert to Cork airport has been fined €1,500 for her behaviour. Gemma Campbell was so abusive towards the cabin crew on a flight from Fuerteventura to Manchester on Sunday, that the captain was forced to land in Ireland because of fears for the safety of the other 100 passengers on board.
She admitted to drinking in her hotel before going to the airport, consuming more drink while waiting for her flight, and drinking from a bottle of vodka which the cabin crew found by her seat.
A lawyer for the 33-year-old from Manchester said she’s “deeply remorseful and embarrassed over her behaviour, which began following a row with her partner.” She also called a male steward a “f****t” when she was taken from her original seat and allocated one in a different section of the aircraft.
Campbell was arrested by the police in Ireland after Jet2 Flight LS910 from Fuertaventura to Manchester landed at Cork airport, and charged with threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on board the flight.
At a hearing yesterday, Campbell pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to such an extent as to give rise to fears that she might endanger herself or other persons on board the flight, as well as the other charges. Defending lawyer, Emmet Boyle, said that his client was anxious to dispose of the matters as speedily as possible and wanted to plead guilty to both charges.
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He said “She is deeply remorseful and embarrassed over her behaviour”, and had expressed remorse and apologized for her behaviour when she sobered up. He also confirmed she had no previous convictions of any kind in Ireland or in the UK.
The Judge said her that behaviour was completely unacceptable, being abusive towards cabin crew, including the steward at whom she cast “homophobic slurs” as well as causing huge disruption to her fellow passengers who had their journey interrupted with the diversion to Cork. Describing her actions as “egregious behaviour”, he fined her €500 for the first offence and a further €1,000 on the second offence.