'Friends' in court over mid-air fight

A drunken holidaymaker threatened to open the door of an aircraft returning to England from Spain as he fought with a friend, Leicester Crown Court was told yesterday.

A drunken holidaymaker threatened to open the door of an aircraft returning to England from Spain as he fought with a friend, Leicester Crown Court was told yesterday.

Passengers were crying with fear when David Hendrick, 28, threatened to kill David Richardson, 29, and open the door, saying: "Let me off now", the court was told.

Mr Hendrick and Mr Richardson, 29, both from Nottingham, deny charges of endangering the lives of passengers and endangering the safety of an aircraft on the flight on 28 August last year.

Avik Mukherjee, for the prosecution, said the pair were part of a group of 12 men returning to East Midlands airport on an Airtours flight from Alicante, and had been drinking before it left. They traded blows in the aisle as food was served about an hour into the flight and the cabin crew warned them the plane would be diverted if they did not calm down.

"At one time Hendrick threw his food tray in the air and made his way to the back of the plane to confront Richardson," said Mr Mukherjee. "He threatened to open the door of the aircraft... and a number of passengers were disturbed by the commotion and some were crying."

Mr Richardson later told police there had been shouting but no fighting and Mr Hendrick said he lost his temper but did not throw any blows.

The trial continues today.