A drunken passenger on a packed flight from Turkey to Manchester Airport threatened to ‘chin’ a member of the crew who had taken a drink from him.
Then after the plane had landed and was heading for the gate, Benjamin Lynch fell on top of a passenger sitting in his seat with a child nearby as he “slipped” down the aisle with his seatbelt warning lights still on, the court heard.
And her mother, also drunk on the EasyJet flight from Antalya, tried to push past police and tell them to “go away” as they boarded the flight and arrested her. Then he was also arrested.
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As the summer holiday season approaches, a Crown Court judge issued a stinging warning to those who drink too much before or on board planes as he sentenced Patricia Lynch, 59, and her 29-year-old son Benjamin. He described the flight experience. in May last year as “terrifying” to other passengers.
On Tuesday, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard that a further 179 holidaymakers, including infants and young children, were on the return flight.
Both mother and son of Pope Lane, of Ribbleton, Preston, pleaded guilty to being drunk on board a 2009 Air Navigation Order.
Benjamin Lynch, who the court heard had 14 previous convictions for 23 offences, was jailed for four months. His mother, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for two months, placed on two years’ probation and ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work. The court heard she was in a “different position” to her son and there was a “difference” between their offending on the flight.
Judge Jonathan Seeley said Benjamin Lynch had shown “gross selfishness and a complete lack of respect”.
He said. “This behavior was started by you, Benjamin Lynch, and has continued for a very long time. Your behavior was disgraceful, completely selfish. You should not board an airplane as an adult if you cannot control your drinking or your behavior. .
“Those who become intoxicated on a plane should expect a prison sentence. A lot of people on that flight were probably terrified of flying. Then when someone starts like you, why should they be abused by you?”
Judge Seeley said Patricia Lynch’s behavior was “disgraceful” but less serious than her son’s.
James Hudson, prosecuting, said the duration of the flight was four-and-a-half hours and Benjamin Lynch’s behavior began around two-and-a-half hours. He was first spotted standing at the back of the plane, shouting and cursing. He was warned, the court heard him, but he did not stop.
About an hour before landing, the passenger asked to be moved because of Lynch’s behaviour, but the court heard he “tried to provoke a reaction” by pushing the man and “getting into his space”.
Patricia Lynch, the court heard, ordered a vodka and lemonade and accused the passenger of taking a “p***”. Drinks were taken from them by cabin crew, the court heard. That, Mr Hudson said, prompted a “strong reaction” from Benjamin Lynch, who threatened to “chin” the cabin crew member, then stood up and approached him, knocking over drinks as he did so.
The court heard that after boarding he went to the toilet four times on approach to Manchester and then “started stumbling” down the aisle as the plane moved towards the gate after landing, at one stage falling on top of a passenger who was holding a child. When the police sat down, he walked down the hall with his arms outstretched to be handcuffed. Then he started lying on the floor.
Mr Hudson said Patricia Lynch began arguing with the officers, telling them her son had done nothing wrong. “He tried to push past the officers and also told the officers to leave,” he said. “Officers described him as slurring his words and smelling of alcohol. Both pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”
The court heard that Benjamin Lynch was “heartfelt and genuinely remorseful” and wanted to apologise. It was said to be a “particularly difficult holiday” and she suffered from anxiety and claustrophobia. His mother was said to be “trying to calm” her son down and her role was described by his lawyer as “secondary” to him and “extremely impolite”.
Judge Seely, however, said: “People need to take responsibility for their actions and alcohol is no excuse. It’s about other people. Children are hurt.”