Drunk Jet2 passenger shouts ‘I need a hug’ to ‘shaken’ crew

A drunken plane passenger screamed and swore at horrified crew and fellow passengers on a flight from Spain.

April Wilson caused fear and distress to passengers on a flight from Spain to Newcastle by shouting and swearing at 35,000ft. The court heard how the 58-year-old became upset when she boarded the Jet2 flight from Alicante and, despite repeated attempts to calm her down, Wilson continued to shout and swear, including at two female cabin crew members.

Wilson, of Front Street, Houghton-le-Spring, boarded the flight, along with 187 passengers and cabin crew, which left Spain for Newcastle Airport at 11.25am on 19 November 2023. The cabin crew noted that seemed upset and asked if she was OK – the court heard how Wilson’s anger was at someone who appeared to be her partner, ChronicleLive reports.

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A number of passengers complained about her behavior during the flight, saying she was drunk and kept swearing. A member of staff heard her repeatedly say “damn” and asked her to stop, but she failed to do so. Wilson, who was slurring his words as the female cabin crew walked away, said: “F*** her” and when told again to stop swearing, replied: “What the hell are you going to do with you stupid cow”.

Wilson was approached by the flight manager who tried to calm her down. The 58-year-old referred to someone, who appeared to be her partner, who she said was making fun of her. She looked upset and said, “You don’t understand, I need a hug,” and tried to get the flight manager to hug her. The manager made him a coffee, but Wilson continued swearing.

As the plane landed in Newcastle, she unbuckled her seat belt and tried to get out of the seat. The court heard that a number of passengers complained about her and two sitting next to her were moved to other seats at the start of the flight.

Wilson was arrested after getting off the plane at Newcastle Airport. She said she had drunk vodka the night before and two small bottles of wine on the flight. Mark Atkins, prosecuting, said: “She said her partner was taunting her about her looks and her intelligence and shouted and swore in return and shouted and swore when the cabin crew told her to calm down .

The first flight attendant who was sworn in by Wilson said in a victim impact statement that she was “shaken” by what happened. She added: “I was worried that her behavior would escalate and I felt intimidated by what was going to happen.

“There were 188 passengers on board, of all ages, and they were subjected to her behavior. Behavior like this in aircraft is becoming more and more common.”

The flight manager added: “This is becoming a huge problem because of people using alcohol and drugs.” She said such behavior at 35,000 feet in an enclosed space was intimidating and added: “I thought he was going to attack me.

“I was worried about the other passengers, especially those around her. It was clear that she was very drunk.”

Wilson, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months.

Judge Gavin Doig told her: “You were heard swearing repeatedly, shouting abuse. When you asked the cabin crew to stop doing that, you were abusive to those cabin crew.

“You tried to assault the person in front of you, who appeared to be your partner, who you were primarily angry with at the time. Your actions also caused fear and anger to cabin crew and other passengers.

“You were extremely upset, not just because you were gratuitously offensive. It was clear that other issues were troubling you as well.”

The court heard that Wilson is now getting help for her alcohol problems and Katie Spence, defending, said: “This was entirely out of character. Unfortunately, the people who felt his wrath were the flight attendants who didn’t deserve this to be dealt with. as they were.

“She is appalled by her behavior and has learned her lesson.”

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