Ex-flight attendant jailed after trying to open plane door midair
An ex-flight attendant has been jailed after trying to open a plane door as it came in to land at Newcastle Airport.
Joseph Hemmingway, who used to work for British Airways, was travelling back from Portugal when he went into "meltdown".
See also: Terrifying moment plane door opens mid-flight
See also: Passenger who tried to open plane door at 30,000ft 'thought it was toilet'
The incident occurred on Jet2 flight LS530, which departed from Madeira Airport shortly after 7pm on 8 August.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how he asked cabin crew to move him as he was sitting next to a passenger watching a programme about crystal meth, a drug that killed his boyfriend.
He reportedly said he wanted to join his boyfriend, before saying he was going to open a door at the rear of the aircraft around 15 minutes before landing.
At this point, an off-duty prison officer and an off-duty police officer brought him down and had to remain out of their seats to restrain him as the plane touched down.
According to the Mirror, Hemmingway, who is HIV positive, was trying to bite people and was spitting at them.
He has now been jailed for 18 months for recklessly acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft.
The Chronicle Live reports that Judge Bindloss commended the bravery of the prison and police officer who tackled Hemmingway.
He told Hemmingway: "You made towards the rear door and said, 'I'm going to open the door', and as you stepped towards the door the off-duty prison officer took you down to the floor.
"Another male passenger, an off-duty police officer, assisted in holding you down on the floor.
"Their bravery and public spirited commitment are to be commended."
Geoff Knowles, defending, said: "It was wholly out of character and essentially there's a tragic history that this man has suffered.
"Following the loss of his employment and the death of his partner, it's clear he spiralled into a reliance on alcohol and drugs."
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