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Drunken Traveler’s Tirade Endangered Safety of Cabin Crew and Passengers

Lance Wheelwright abused members of a Flybe flight from Amsterdam to Manchester after he was refused alcohol.

A judge in Manchester, England, has ruled that an outburst by a drunken traveller on a Flybe flight from Amsterdam was so aggressive that his behavior endangered both the safety of the plane’s passengers as well as its cabin crew.

The incident occurred on November 10th last year, when heavily intoxicated Lance Wheelwright demanded that crew serve him eight cans of beer as the plane was landing at Manchester Airport (MAN). His request was denied by Catherine Singer, a member of the plane’s cabin crew.

After having been refused alcohol, Wheelwright then began to violently abuse Singer. The Manchester Evening News reports that Wheelwright’s language was so aggressive that Singer, a member of staff with 16 years of cabin crew experience, ‘had to compose herself’.

While Wheelwright initially apologized, he swiftly became aggressive again. A nearby passenger then intervened in an attempt to calm the situation, but was also abused by the 33-year-old.

It is reported that Wheelwright shoved Singer as he disembarked from the plane and also threatened to kill Lois Hughes, another member of the plane’s cabin crew.

In her statement to a court in Manchester, Singer spoke of the incident, saying, “In 16 years I have dealt with drunken and disruptive passengers. What I experienced on this occasion was the first time I have ever been spoken to in this manner or been physically assaulted.”

Another unnamed member of the crew added, “I feel I don’t want to come back to work tomorrow.”

The outlet reports that Wheelwright is ‘utterly disgusted’ with his behavior and would like to apologize to the crew.

District judge Sam Goozee has adjourned the case for sentencing, but told Wheelwright that, “There is clear evidence your behavior started during the landing process and caused the cabin crew to be distracted from their responsibilities for the safety of the aircraft. You should expect to receive an immediate custodial sentence.”

[Photo: Shutterstock]

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Peter95949 January 6, 2017

I simply cannot understand how these people get onto an aircraft to begin with! There should be no alcohol available at the airports! Or at least not after security. And surely pax such as this drunk can be recognized as such at the gate and prevented from boarding. Smoking was banned from aircraft years ago; I believe alcohol should be as well. I was in the travel industry from 1964 until 1999 and have flown all over the planet. In the days when service actually existed; security did not; plenty of room on the aircraft; good food in coach including the napery and often small menus. They recreated the fall of Rome on many international flights long before the bean counters destroyed everything. In all those years on every type of aircraft, I NEVER saw the slightest disturbance. Nothing. People were actually civil to one another!