TUI flight grounded after drunk passenger spilled drink on child | British news

A TUI flight to Turkey had to be diverted after a drunk passenger caused extensive damage on board.

James Rae, 29, called a crew member a ‘gay boy’ after he was challenged for his foul language before spilling some of his drink on a little girl sitting nearby.

The captain of the flight, which took off from Glasgow Airport before changing course and heading towards Newcastle Airport on May 24, issued a statement saying he was ‘very annoyed’ by Rae’s antics.

Rae, from Falkirk, pleaded guilty to entering an aircraft while intoxicated and/or being drunk on an aircraft at Newcastle Magistrates Court.

He will be sentenced at the city’s Crown Court on November 6.

The court heard Rae was told to stop swearing by airline staff on the flight because there were children on board.

Rehana Haque, prosecuting, said Rae, who “smelled drunk”, began drinking liquor he had purchased duty-free during the flight.

A statement from airline staff, read out by the prosecutor, said: “The cabin manager explained to him that his behavior was unacceptable.”

It added that Rae “spoke to us in an aggressive manner.”

Due to the passenger’s behavior, the flight was diverted to Newcastle International Airport.

Ms Haque told the court Rae “bumped” his head on the seat in front of him and spilled alcohol on a little girl.

He was arrested after the plane landed in Newcastle.

Rae’s behavior caused chaos at the airport after the flight was delayed for a total of five hours and 23 minutes.

The return flight from Antalya was delayed by more than 17 hours.

In a statement, the pilot explained that the ordeal was a “huge inconvenience to my airline.”

He added: ‘I felt very irritated by the whole situation.’

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