Drunken woman stormed galley and smashed crockery on British Airways flight after cabin crew refused her more alcohol, court hears

Emma Langford claims criminal damage was not deliberate

Emma Langford, 47m admitted a charge of being drunk on an aircraft and of behaving in an abusive manner towards flight staff (Kirsty O'Connor/PA)

A drunk British Airways passenger had to be forcibly restrained by cabin crew after she stormed the galley and smashed crockery when cabin crew refused to serve her a drink, a court has heard.

Emma Langford admitted to being drunk on board flight BA043 from London's Heathrow Airport to the South African city of Cape Town last December.

But Uxbridge Magistrates Court heard that the 47-year-old was also verbally abusive towards staff, who claimed she behaved “erratically” and smelt of alcohol.

She was also alleged to have attacked three members of the flight’s cabin crew before being restrained in her seat.

Langford, of Old Basing, Hampshire, admitted a charge of being drunk on an aircraft and one of behaving in an abusive manner towards flight staff.

She also admitted a charge of causing criminal damage, on the basis that she acted recklessly when she smashed crockery and glasses to the floor during the flight.

Prosecutors claimed her behaviour in breaking British Airways property was deliberate.

However, she pleaded not guilty to three charges of assault by beating against British Airways employees Matthew Richardson, Monique Foulger and Poppy Haynes.

Mr Richardson, a customer services manager whose statement was read to the court by prosecutor Zara Khan, claimed he and “several colleagues” were assaulted by a passenger who later had to be “forcibly restrained” on the flight.

Langford had approached flight staff in the plane’s galley area around 30 minutes after take-off, demanding a drink, he said.

He added that she was “raising her voice” and displaying “agitated body language” as she complained that she had been on the flight “for ages”, was thirsty and wanted a drink.

“During this conversation I could smell alcohol on Emma,” Mr Richardson said.

Langford denied she had been drinking when asked, was given a bottle of water and was repeatedly asked to calm down and return to her seat, the court heard.

Mr Richardson added: “She approached me with a puffed-up chest and was behaving erratically again, she was verbally abusive.”

The court heard staff grew “increasingly concerned” over Langford’s behaviour, which included chasing away a member of cabin crew and shouting abuse, before she allegedly launched an attack on Mr Richardson.

He claimed she “hit me several times”, including being punched around three times in his left collar bone.

Mr Richardson’s colleague, Ms Haynes, was also allegedly assaulted during the flight, the court heard.

At one point Langford tipped up a drawer of plates and tray of glasses, causing them to break, Mr Richardson said.

Eventually, she was served with a violation notice by staff on the plane, the court heard.

“She then ripped it up and responded saying ‘Blah, blah, blah’,” Mr Richardson said.

His statement added that Langford was restrained in her seat for the rest of the journey.

Langford was bailed ahead of a two-day trial and Newton hearing at the same court, starting on 12 August.

A Newton hearing sees a judge sit without a jury decide who is telling the truth when two parties offer conflicting evidence.

Additional reporting by Press Association