British Airways passenger sparked May Day after downing gin and row with wife

27 May 2023 , 20:04

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Gurpreet Dhillon was jailed for eight months (Image: BPM MEDIA)

A drunk passenger who pushed a member of the cabin crew and left other passengers terrified for their safety during a brawl with his wife on a British Airways flight.

Gurpreet Dhillon, 42, downed three-quarters of a bottle of Gordon's gin before becoming volatile and aggressive on the plane, which had left Malaga, Spain for London Heathrow Airport.

The captain had to make a May Day call due to the incident and, after the plane landed six minutes early as a result, Dhillon was arrested.

The tourist had shoved the cabin crew member twice following his argument with his wife.

The British Airways plane made a priority landing at London Heathrow Airport (file image) (AFP via Getty Images)

But Dhillon was jailed on Friday for eight months at Isleworth Crown Court after admitting being drunk on an aircraft, acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft and assault by beating, reports My London.

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Sentencing, Judge Kuljit Bhogal KC: "The crew were so scared that it caused the captain to make a mayday call to aircraft control to seek priority landing. Clearly, the circumstances were sufficiently serious to warrant that action."

The judge was told Dhillon was handed an eight-year sentence in 2009 after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. He had been behind the wheel of a green Jaguar XK convertible when he crashed into a roundabout in September 2008, while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

His friend, passenger Tony Proctor, was left with serious injuries and his life support was turned off two days later.

The court heard the defendant, from Isleworth, West London, has shown a "strong willingness to deal with his alcoholism".

But the man purchased a large bottle of gin from the duty-free store on October 4 at Malaga Airport, and began to consume it both before and during the flight.

The case was heard at Isleworth Crown Court (file photo) (PA)

Cabin crew were alerted to an argument between the couple. Dhillon was swearing in front of families with young children.

Flight attendant Dan Meager attempted to separate the parties and told Dhillon to "behave himself" before moving away.

A short while later, he was pushed in the chest with both hands by Dhillon who was "continuously swearing and shouting".

After informing his manager of the incident, Mr Meager returned to the aisles where Dhillon assaulted him for the second time by pushing him in the face, causing him to fall onto a passenger.

As a result, he suffered pain and swelling to his upper lip and reddening to his cheek. The manager told Dhillon that his behaviour was against the law, removed the gin bottle and with the assistance of his brother, was able to subdue his behaviour.

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She noted that he appeared drunk and that his head was "heavy" and he was no longer making sense when he spoke.

The court heard Dhillon also has a number of previous convictions for other alcohol-related offences, including a drink-driving charge in 2002.

Holly Evans