Latest news with #airlinecrew
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
British Airways flight attendant ‘found naked and dancing in business class toilet' after allegedly taking drugs
A naked British Airways crew member was discovered dancing in a business class toilet while on shift mid-flight after allegedly taking drugs, according to reports. The Sun reported the steward was supposed to be serving meals to passengers on a recent flight from San Francisco to London Heathrow, but had disappeared. When the double-decker Airbus A380-800 was searched, it is claimed that the in-flight crew manager discovered him naked and dancing in the Club World cabin toilet. Staff reportedly dressed their colleague in a spare pair of pyjamas used by first-class passengers before buckling him into a first-class seat, where he stayed for the remainder of the 10-and-a-half-hour trip. The Metropolitan Police said a 41-year-old man on a flight from San Francisco to London Heathrow Airport was arrested on suspicion of being unfit for duty. The force said officers were called by cabin crew over concerns for the welfare of a man just after 9.30am. When the plane landed, he was taken to hospital for treatment, before being arrested and later released under investigation as enquiries continue. British Airways told The Independent the incident is a matter for the police. The Met said in a statement: 'At 9.32am, police based at Heathrow Airport were called by cabin crew following the concern for welfare of a man on an inbound flight from San Francisco. 'A 41-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment once the flight had landed. 'Officers arrested the man after he received medical attention. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit for duty. He has since been released under investigation. 'Enquiries remain ongoing into the circumstances, and an investigation has been launched.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Flight attendant found naked, dancing in bathroom after going missing
A British Airways crew member was found dancing naked in a business class toilet at 30,000ft. The steward is suspected of using drugs before the incident, which happened as he was supposed to be serving an in-flight meal. Colleagues searched the aircraft when he went missing as they handed out food and drinks on the busy jet to London's Heathrow from the US. The in-flight crew boss was then stunned to find him completely naked and jigging up and down in the Club World cabin loo. He was bundled into a spare pair of pyjamas reserved for First Class passengers on the flight from San Francisco. The steward was then escorted to the First Class cabin, where he was buckled into a luxury seat for the remainder of the ten-and-a-half hour journey. BA bosses alerted police, who met the double-decker Airbus A380-800 on landing at 11am loca; time last Sunday to arrest him. He also received medical attention and was taken from the plane — which had around 470 passengers and crew on board — in a wheelchair. Angry crew members had to work the entire flight without breaks to cover for him. The steward was suspended from duty while investigations continue. One worker said: 'We think the guy popped pills when he was meant to be working. It is an extraordinary thing to do. 'The plane was cruising at 37,000ft over the Atlantic, but this bloke seemed to be higher than anyone else. 'Rather than asking passengers 'chicken or beef', he was stripping off and dancing in the toilet. It was a long time before he was located and he was completely out of it. 'Not only is it really dangerous, it is a crazy way to end your BA career. This job can do ridiculous things to people, but staging a one-man disco in a Club World toilet is a new one on me.' British Airways said it is a police matter. Scotland Yard was approached for comment.
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Shirtless American Airlines passenger tackles, pins crew member as flight to Chicago is thrown off course
An American Airlines flight from Connecticut to Chicago was thrown into chaos Tuesday night when a passenger suddenly ripped off his shirt and assaulted a flight attendant, pinning the crew member to the cabin floor as shocked travelers scrambled to and pry him off. Julius Jordan Priester allegedly became 'incoherent,' authorities said, once the journey was underway, according to a federal complaint filed Wednesday and obtained first by The Independent. The midair melee forced the pilot to divert the plane back to Bradley International Airport in Hartford. Priester, a 24-year-old Kansas resident, is currently on probation for a previous aggravated assault conviction, prosecutors said in a detention motion. An American Airlines spokesperson did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. Priester does not yet have an attorney listed in court filings and was unable to be reached for comment. On the evening of May 27, American flight 3359 took off without incident, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by an FBI agent in support of the complaint against Priester. However, the affidavit goes on, things took a sharp turn for the worse less than an hour into the two-hour-and-forty-minute trip. That's when Priester, who was seated toward the rear of the aircraft, abruptly stood up, removed his top, and ran to the back of the plane, yelling, 'Help me,' the affidavit states. Priester then grabbed a flight attendant by the shirt collar, shouted, 'You're coming with me,' and 'forcefully brought the [flight attendant] to the ground,' the affidavit continues. As he 'attempted to drag the [flight attendant] up the aisle,' the affidavit says, other members of the flight crew shouted at Priester to stop. But Priester allegedly 'refused to comply with repeated flight crew instructions to cease his actions, and he held the [flight attendant] to the ground.' Another flight attendant reported the fracas to the captain, who declared an emergency and diverted the plane back to Hartford, the affidavit states. 'Priester was returned to a seat after the intervention of passengers on board the aircraft,' according to the affidavit. 'While under watch of one of the intervening passengers, Priester continued to act in an erratic manner, grabbing and holding onto the arm of the passenger and making incoherent statements.' Court filings do not provide details on what might have prompted Priester's outburst. The flight landed safely back at Bradley Airport shortly after 10 p.m., and Priester was removed by officers with the Connecticut State Police, the affidavit says. An ambulance transported Priester to a local hospital for evaluation, where he was formally arrested on Wednesday by the FBI on one count of interference with flight crew members, a felony. In a detention motion filed alongside the complaint, prosecutors called Priester's alleged offense 'extremely serious,' arguing that he put 'the safety of all the passengers in danger.' The motion says Priester has an established criminal history, and that his employment history and family ties to Connecticut are 'largely unknown and unverified.' 'Taken together, the government submits that the defendant poses a danger to the community that no condition or combination of conditions will sufficiently mitigate, nor will they reasonably assure his appearance at future proceedings and prevent his likely flight if he is released into the community,' the motion argues. In the first five months of 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has so far fielded 637 reports of unruly passengers; the agency received a total of 2,102 unruly passenger reports in 2024. Bad behavior in the sky hit a modern-day high in 2021, with 5,973 passengers being reported for unruliness. Earlier this year, a retired New York City firefighter was arrested after authorities said he got drunk and tried to enter the cockpit on an American Airlines flight from New York City to Tokyo. In March, a serial groper was banned for life from American following his third in-flight groping allegation aboard one of the carrier's airplanes.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
The 20 things plane passengers hate the most from armrest hoggers to chatty strangers
FLYERS' biggest irritations include people reclining their seat, crying kids - and drunk passengers. A poll of 2,000 air travellers also found people using devices without headphones, talking too loudly, and taking ages to put their bags in the overhead lockers were other major annoyances. 2 But it is children kicking the back of their chair that was most annoying, according to 36 per cent. Sitting next to a chatty stranger, having to queue for the toilet, and double armrest hoggers also made the top 20 list. The research was commissioned by travel insurance provider Staysure, whose spokesperson said: 'Bringing so many different people all together in one enclosed space for a long period of time can be quite an intense experience, sometimes, enabling minor irritations to bubble away. 'Crying children, seat reclining, and loud fellow passengers can often be frequently encountered on a journey, with the research showing many people can end up a little annoyed on this travel leg of the trip. 'But drunken and disorderly travellers are also unwelcome, not only by fellow flyers but the airline crew as well.' The research found that 14 per cent were irked by fellow passengers getting up to remove their bags from overhead lockers when the flight hadn't officially ended. But 15 per cent admitted they were guilty of doing some of these irritations themselves, with armrest dominance key for 54 per cent. Of those wound up by things on flights, 47 per cent are frequently exasperated by such behaviours – with eight per cent claiming to feel like this every time they step aboard a flight. With 44 per cent making their irritations known through a sigh or a huff, and 19 per cent have ended up involved in a heated discussion, according to the OnePoll data. Varying approaches also emerged when it came to initial interactions with fellow passengers – with 37 per cent acknowledging the person they're sitting next to and happy to chat away if they wanted to. But 32 per cent have regretted doing so once they realise their neighbour would natter to them throughout. And 17 per cent avoid any acknowledgement and conversation during the flight – with 25 per cent even pretending to be asleep to avoid a chat. It also emerged 76 per cent would support a section on a plane specifically for parents and children to sit, with 18 per cent finding a crying child more frustrating than a disruptive adult. However, 37 per cent found a rowdy grown-up to be much more irritating, with 88 per cent believing there is a correlation between the flight destination and attitudes of passengers. And 44 per cent believe alcohol restrictions would be a wise idea on board. A spokesperson from Staysure added: 'This research has given us a look at a topic everyone seemingly has a strong opinion on. 'However, once the flight is out of the way, you feel like you can really get on and enjoy your holiday. 'As the survey has shown, there's a long list of things that might irritate us on the plane and you never know what you might encounter. 'We can't insure people against annoying passengers but it's always wise to have tailored travel insurance in place to keep yourself protected should anything more serious happen before or during your trip.' 2 TOP 20 BIGGEST FLYING IRRITATIONS 1. Children kicking the back of your chair 2. Crying or disruptive children 3. Seat reclining 4. Drunk passengers 5. Using a device without headphones on 6. People talking too loudly 7. People taking ages putting their bags in the overhead locker when first boarding 8. People standing up to get their bags out of the overhead lockers before the flight has officially ended 9. People getting louder the more alcohol they drink 10. People pulling the back of your seat to stand up 11. Sitting next to a chatty stranger 12. Children running up and down the aisle 13. Queuing for the toilet 14. People who keep getting up to put something in and out of their bag in the overhead locker 15. Passengers constantly coughing 16. The person next to you falling asleep so you can't get out to use the toilet 17. Double armrest hoggers 18. Poor quality flight food 19. People who sit in the wrong seat when first boarding 20. Snoring passengers
CNA
14-05-2025
- CNA
Jail for man who had to be restrained in 'air rage' case on Scoot flight
SINGAPORE: A man was jailed for five weeks on Wednesday (May 14) for an episode of "air rage" during which he had to be physically restrained on a Scoot flight. Kolathu James Leo, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of boarding a plane in such a state of intoxication that he jeopardised the good order and discipline required on the flight. The offence under the Air Navigation Act carries a jail term of up to a year, a fine of up to S$20,000 (US$15,370) or both penalties. He faced two other charges of criminal force and harassment – by grabbing a crew member's wrist and threatening to kill him – that were considered for sentencing. The court heard that Kolathu, who resided in Canberra, was on Scoot flight TR3 from Sydney to Singapore on Feb 27. He was due to transit through Singapore on the way to India, after having recently received news that his uncle had died there. That morning, Kolathu downed at least four shots of whiskey at home before making his way to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. He boarded the flight in a state of intoxication, and shortly after take-off, got up from his seat even though the seatbelt sign was still on. He complied with crew members when they asked him to return to his seat, but started to harass three passengers seated near him by shouting at them and repeatedly pushing one who was next to him. The pilot issued a warning letter for the crew to give to Kolathu, which cautioned him to mind his behaviour. But Kolathu crumpled the letter without reading it. He also tried to detach a seat pocket and slammed the seat in front of him. A crew member saw these actions and was afraid Kolathu would turn violent. He reported the incident to the pilot and asked his colleagues to bring a physical restraint device. The three passengers being harassed by Kolathu were moved to other seats. The pilot then ordered Kolathu to be restrained using the device. Kolathu was arrested after the plane landed at Changi Airport. A blood sample taken from him was found to contain 96mg of ethanol per 100ml of blood. The prosecution sought four weeks' jail, while the defence asked for three weeks' jail. In sentencing, District Judge Janet Wang said this was a case of "air rage" where the safety of the flight crew and passengers was significantly threatened. She said the high standards of safety in air travel must be ensured at all times. This is because unlike other modes of public transport, it would be challenging to get prompt assistance from law enforcement officers mid-flight, or to divert a flight due to an emergency.
