Drunk Brit who terrorised passengers on Emirates flight avoids jail
A drunk man who terrorised a Emirates airline flight from Dubai to Birmingham has avoided a prison sentence.
Rahees Iqbal, 19, had previously admitted being drunk on board the plane, using threatening words and resisting arrest, the Birmingham Mail reports.
The chairman of the bench, Peter Patel, said: "You were more of a nuisance but in a confined space with lots of people around it can be extremely frightening.
"We take on board you are remorseful and sorry."
Iqbal was given a 12 month community order and ordered to do 180 hours' unpaid work as well as having to pay £200 compensation and £295 in costs.
He had been travelling between Dubai and Birmingham on April 23 this year with family members.
It is reported that soon after the plane had taken off from Dubai, Iqbal became argumentative when he was only given two miniature bottles of vodka, having asked for four.
The 19-year-old's behaviour continued to worsen throughout the journey and after about four hours a member of cabin crew, Roberta Helmy, said the man spoke to her in a "loud and aggressive way" when she said his younger brother couldn't sit in the crew's jump seat.
It became apparent that he had brought alcohol on to the flight and other members of his group had also been supplying him with alcohol.
"Miss Helmy concluded that the defendant's behaviour was unacceptable and unruly. It was uncomfortable for the passengers and crew. She could see genuine fear amongst passengers nearby."
According to the Mirror, Miss Helmy was also concerned that Iqbal would throw his drink over her.
Later in the journey Iqbal was asked to move to a seat at the back of the plane where he punched the television and slammed his hands on the head rest.
When the plane landed in Birmingham, police boarded the plane to arrest Iqbal who resisted at first.
Najeeb Ali was defending Iqal and said: "He was more of a nuisance than an actual danger. He accepts he was a foolish young man."
Related articles:
Drunk man stood on rail tracks as he tried to flag down a moving train
Woman arrested after 'stripping and performing solo sex act on plane'
'Drunk' topless Ryanair passenger forces emergency landing
