Drunk passenger who assaulted officers jailed

A man who got drunk on a plane bound for Crete before getting into a fight with another passenger and assaulting two police officers has been jailed.

Nathan Cooper and Chris McCann boarded the Jet2 plane at Leeds Bradford Airport on 24 June last year before a brawl broke out and the pair were escorted off the plane, Leeds Crown Court heard.

During his arrest, Cooper punched one officer and bit another. A mostly drunk bottle of vodka was found at his seat on the plane.

Cooper, 44, of Dene Park in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to affray and being drunk on an aircraft and was jailed on Wednesday for 15 months. He was also ordered to pay a £187 surcharge.

McCann, 45, also from Harrogate, previously admitted being drunk on an aircraft in May but denies affray and is due to stand trial in August 2027.

He will be sentenced for the drinking charge on or after that date.

The court heard the plane was still on the runway when the fight started and cabin crew moved the pair to the back of the aircraft before they were removed.

Cabin crew reported seeing passengers crying as punches were thrown and Cooper was later given a breath test which showed he had 112 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit for driving is 35 micrograms.

West Yorkshire Police's Insp Kevin Lowther said: "A few people's selfish actions have the power to derail the travel plans of every other passenger on their flight.

"Cabin staff should also not have to deal with such threatening and frightening behaviour in their workplace.

"We need people to take some personal responsibility and think how they would feel if the shoe was on the other foot and they were in a confined space, potentially with young children, being put in fear by someone shouting or behaving violently."

He added: "I hope the fact that Cooper has been sent to prison sends a message to others about the repercussions of drunk and violent behaviour on aeroplanes."

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