Cheers as passenger 'so drunk he can't stand' escorted off flight, court hears

09 November 2023 , 08:15

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The plane hadn't even left the tarmac at Newcastle Airport (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Passengers on a Turkey-bound flight cheered as a drunk holidaymaker was escorted off the plane.

Paul Carling had to be removed from the flight by police officers as he was "so drunk he couldn't stand up on his own". The 43-year-old was on the Correndon Airlines flight to Antalya on September 6 and became "aggressive and abusive" towards officers.

The plane hadn't even left the tarmac at Newcastle Airport when police were summoned. Body-cam footage of Carling, from Middlesborough, was shown in Teesside magistrates court on Wednesday of his "shameful" behaviour, with fellow passengers cheering and clapping as he was escorted off.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Jane Scott said: "Police had been contacted by airport staff who requested the removal of the defendant from the aircraft. On arrival all the passengers were seated.

Paul Carling was handed a fine

"Police described that he was very very drunk and was abusive when officers escorted him off the plane. It seems other passengers were quite relieved at the attendance of police officers which might suggest that there had been some delay. He was so very drunk that he couldn't stand up on his own and had to be assisted out of his seat."

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The court heard he struggled to walk but was helped by police, Teesside Live reports, as fellow passengers applauded as he was removed from the plane. Footage was shown in court which saw the defendant slurring his words and swearing at officers. Fellow passengers could be seen filming the defendant and cheering as he left the flight.

Carling, of Abbington Road, Middlesborough, has four convictions for five offences and appeared unrepresented in court. He told magistrates he was suffering with a mental illness at the time but is now on medication. He told the court he has lost his job and said he was "ashamed" by the footage.

Sentencing, magistrates branded the incident as "shameful, shocking behaviour". The defendant pleaded guilty to being "drunk in an aircraft" at an earlier hearing and was fined £500, made to pay £85 court costs and a £200 victim surcharge.

Georgia Banks