Jet2 passenger attacked crew on flight forcing pilot to declare an emergency

24 October 2023 , 21:11

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The Jet2 flight was forced to declare an emergency (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

A drunk social worker whose behaviour during a flight forced a pilot to declare an emergency has been handed a jail sentence.

Mum of two Heather Anne McCarroll had taken two diazepam tablets for her nerves with alcohol ahead of the Turkey bound Jet2 journey. Antrim Magistrates’ Court heard how during the flight she screamed into an intercom at the front of the plane, punched a crew member in the throat and assaulted two other people aboard. The pilot declared an emergency as a result of the 38-year-old’s behaviour. Proceedings were told McCarroll would have stood trial in Turkey, if not for the language barrier.

Belfast Live reported the court heard how McCarroll went to the toilet and while inside could be heard “shouting sexual obscenities and kicking the door”. She left the toilet in such a state that when she came out, “it was deemed necessary to close it for the rest of the flight”.

Meanwhile McCarroll went to the front of the plane where she got hold of the intercom and was “screaming down it loudly” to such an extent, the captain had to switch it off so he could hear incoming transmissions from air traffic control. The lawyer described how McCarroll “punched a crew member to the throat” and then went to the galley area at the rear of the plane where she assaulted two other members of the cabin crew.

At an earlier hearing McCarroll, from Cullybackey, entered guilty pleas to four charges of common assault and single offences of criminal damage to a toilet belonging to Jet2, being drunk on a plane, endangering the safety of an aircraft and behaving in a threatening, abusive or disorderly manner towards cabin crew on September 6 last year.

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District Judge Nigel Broderick sentenced her to a four month jail sentence, as well as fines amounting to £300. She was freed on bail pending an appeal.

Mr Broderick added: “I have read the detailed reports and I have reflected carefully on all that has been said, there are too many of these incidents, largely fuelled by alcohol but sometime by the abuse of drugs but that’s no comfort to the cabin crew who have to deal with people or the passengers who have to put up with this behaviour.

“I have to say, this is possibly the worst form of behaviour that I have come across. It is not unfortunately uncommon for passengers to take excessive amounts of alcohol and to then be disruptive on a flight but this behaviour takes it to a whole new level.”

Antony Thrower