Aggressive air passenger provoked by hair in food, court told

A drunk and rowdy passenger on a flight to Malta has been handed a suspended sentence for creating a disturbance after he found a hair in his food.

Christopher Charles Collins, 45, of London appeared in the dock before magistrate Joe Mifsud this morning, charged with acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, using abusive or insulting language and intentionally interfered with the duties of an aircraft crewmember. He was also accused of being drunk in an aircraft.

The court was told that the incident was sparked by Collins finding a hair in his plate during the flight from Luton yesterday night. The man, who had been drinking from a large bottle of vodka and ignored crew members’ instructions to stop consuming alcohol, had become sarcastic and abusive, although not violent.

“It was an incident caused by a hair in his plate and a small argument about his luggage. He is very sorry for what happened,” explained Collins’ lawyer, Franco Debono.

Magistrate Mifsud told a very apologetic Collins that such issues had to be resolved in a calm manner and that drinking was only going to make things worse.

“This behaviour is unacceptable wherever it takes place but becomes more serious when committed on board a flight in a crowded space,” the magistrate told Collins. It could have led to serious consequences, he said, adding that there was “little room for taking such chances in mid-air.”

The court found Collins guilty and sentenced him to 3 months imprisonment, suspended for one year. 

Inspector Darren Buhagiar prosecuted.