Passenger shouted abuse at cabin crew then tried to open plane door during flight

Police describe Lynton Bryan's behaviour as 'vicious and repulsive'

Lynton Bryan was jailed for 22 months after admitting reckless endangerment of an aircraft and passengers (Greater Manchester Police)

A "repulsive" airline passenger hurled abuse at cabin crew and fellow holidaymakers before trying to open a plane door during a flight.

Lynton Bryan, 35, became increasingly angry having being warned to stay in his seat before a delayed take-off from Manchester Airport.

He spent the rest of his four-hour journey to Antalya, Turkey, shouting and following staff and passengers around the aircraft, police said.

Bryan, who claimed to be a “bad boy from Manchester”, also banged on the door to the cockpit.

He then refused to get back in his seat for landing and insisted on standing as the plane touched down.

Police described Bryan’s actions as “vicious and repulsive” after he was jailed for 22 months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

“Bryan frightened not only the cabin crew who were simply doing their job and there to keep the rest of the passengers safe, but also frightened the holiday-goers who should have been excited at the start of their trip,” said Detective Constable Brad Howarth of Greater Manchester Police.

“In a job like ours, you come across people who behave like Bryan on the street all too often but the way the crew dealt with him in the air and in the confines of a plane, while avoiding any physical harm coming to themselves or their passengers, is truly commendable.

“However oblivious he seemed to be to the fright and alarm he was causing people on that flight, he now has time to think about that and nothing else as he remains firmly grounded for the next 22 months.”

The court heard the flight had been delayed for three hours before it was cleared for take-off on 14 June last year.

While the plane was on the runway, Bryan ignored repeated warnings to stay in his seat and got up to open the overhead locker, claiming he was getting a sweet for a child.

Once airborne he began “terrorising crew and passengers” and accused staff of being racist, according to a police statement.

After pulling at the assistance handle on the exit door he turned on a female member of the cabin crew.

He told her: “I’m a bad boy from Manchester, I will hunt you down and when I do, I will hurt you.”

Bryan, of Fairway Road, Oldham, pleading guilty to reckless endangerment of an aircraft and passengers.