Brit who sparked bomb scare on flight is spared jail

PA

A 20-year-old British holidaymaker who sparked a bomb scare on a Thomas Cook flight has been spared jail and given a 16-month suspended sentence.

The Daily Star reports that Aiden Jervis told a member of cabin crew that he could not put his backpack away as his flight came in to land at Tenerife because it had explosives inside.

His flight was given priority landing as a result of his comments, and police spent 75 minutes searching the plane, which still had 218 passengers and eight crew still on board.

Judge Laura Casanas, sitting at court in Granadilla de Abona, said: "In order to maintain calm in the plane two officers from the Civil Guard tried to arrest Aiden Jervis on board but he refused to get off the plane, grabbing hold of his seat until he was removed by force."

Mr Jervis admitted two public order offences and was jailed for eight months on each count, suspended for two years. His friend Nathan Trippier, 21, was also arrested on the plane but it is thought that he was released without charge.

Police described Jervis' actions as "the height of stupidity".

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