Drunk passenger on board flight from Turkey to Manchester Airport threatens to ‘barb’ EasyJet cabin crew

A drunken passenger on board a packed flight to Manchester Airport in Turkey threatened to “shave” a member of the plane’s cabin crew who took something from him.

Then, after the plane landed and taxied to a gate, Benjamin Lynch fell over a passenger sitting in their seat with a child nearby as he “stumbled” down the aisle with his seat belt warning lights still on. lit up, a court heard.

And his mother – also drunk on the EasyJet plane from Antalya – tried to push past police officers and told them to “f*** off” as they boarded the flight and arrested him. Later she was also arrested.

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As the summer holiday season approaches, a Crown Court judge has issued a scathing warning to those who drink to excess before or on board planes as he sentenced Patricia Lynch, 59, and her son Benjamin, 29 years old. He described the experience on board the flight. in May last year, being “terrifying” to other passengers.

There were 179 other holidaymakers on the return plane, including babies and young children, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard on Tuesday.

Both the mother and son of Pope Lane of Ribbleton, Preston, pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft under the Air Navigation Order 2009.

Benjamin Lynch – who the court heard has 14 previous convictions for 23 offenses – was jailed for four months. His mother, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work. The court heard she was in a “different position” to her son and there was a “disparity” between their offenses during the flight.

Judge Jonathan Seely said Benjamin Lynch had shown “gross selfishness and a complete lack of respect”.

He said: “The behavior was started by you, Benjamin Lynch, and continued for a very long time. Your behavior was disgraceful – totally selfish. You shouldn’t get on a plane as an adult if you can’t control your drinking or behavior. .

“Those who get drunk on an aircraft while in flight should expect a custodial sentence. Many people on that flight were probably terrified of flying. Then when someone starts like you – why should they have to suffer your abuse?”

Judge Seely said Patricia Lynch’s behavior was “disgraceful” but less serious than her son’s.

James Hudson, prosecuting, said the flight time was four-and-a-half hours and Benjamin Lynch’s behavior began in about two-and-a-half hours. He was warned, the court heard, but he did not stop.

About an hour before landing, a passenger asked to be moved because of Lynch’s behaviour, but the court heard he “tried to provoke a reaction” by pushing the man and “getting into his space”.

Patricia Lynch, the court heard, ordered a vodka and lemonade and accused the passenger of “taking the f***”. The court heard they were then taken away by cabin crew. That, Mr Hudson said, prompted a “strong reaction” from Benjamin Lynch, who threatened to “kidnap” the cabin crew member, then stood up and walked towards him, knocking over drinks while he did.

The court heard that after re-sitting, he went to the toilet four times on approach to Manchester, then “started stumbling” down the aisle as the plane taxied to a gate after landing, falling over a passenger with a child nearby at one point. When the police came up, he walked down the aisle with his hands out to be handcuffed. Then he started to lie on the floor.

Mr Hudson said Patricia Lynch began arguing with the officers, telling them her son had done nothing wrong. “She tried to push the officers and also told the officers to get down,” he said. “Officers described her as slurring her words and smelling of alcohol. Both pleaded guilty at first opportunity.”

The court heard that Benjamin Lynch showed “sincere and sincere behaviour” and wanted to apologise. It was said to have been a “particularly difficult holiday” and he suffered from anxiety and claustrophobia. His mother was said to be “trying to soothe” her son and her role was described by her adviser as “secondary” to him and “extremely impersonal”.

But Judge Seely said: “People have to be responsible for their own actions and alcohol is no excuse. It’s about other people. The children were affected.”