A drunk passenger on a Ryanair flight allegedly assaulted a flight attended when he was asked to wear a face mask.
According to reports, 24-year-old Daniel Hendry was flying from Tenerife to Manchester, England, on January 29.
Hendry allegedly yelled: ”F**k off, I’m going to punch you, going to smash your head in,” before hitting a male flight attendant.
He also reportedly stroked a female flight attendant’s arm before trying to hug her.
“At first the defendant refused to wear a face mask despite being repeatedly requested to do so,” prosecutor Janice Vallancee told the court.
“Staff also became concerned as he was quite clearly intoxicated and on the seat next to him was an open bottle of Smirnoff Vodka that was three-quarters consumed,” she said. The passenger was moved to the back of the aircraft but he continued to be drunk and confirmed he had consumed three-quarters of the bottle of vodka.”
“On arrival he was arrested by police and caused damage to the police van by banging his head against the door and windows,” Vallancee said.
The pilot attempted to divert the flight, but was not given clearance to land early. Instead, the flight landed 25 minutes early in Manchester, where Hendry was taken into custodyg.
Hendry pleaded guilty to criminal damage, assault and boarding an aircraft while drunk. He will appear March 1 before Minshull Street Crown Court for sentencing.
