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Drunk woman threatens to ‘smash’ flight attendant’s face on easyJet flight

The passenger drank almost a litre of vodka within 40 minutes

Helen Coffey
Friday 29 March 2019 16:50 GMT
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Airlines are incentivised not to share out delays under EU laws
Airlines are incentivised not to share out delays under EU laws (Getty)

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A woman pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and using threatening language after telling a member of cabin crew she would “smash [their] face in”.

Donika Browne, 20, was on an easyJet flight from Barcelona to Liverpool on 4 March when she drank almost a litre of vodka within 40 minutes of the plane taking off.

Browne began shouting and swearing at her partner, according to witnesses.

“The crew became aware of the defendant and noticed her partner had a nose bleed,” said Natalie Cassidy, prosecutor in the case heard at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, reports the Liverpool Echo.

“They then witnessed the defendant walking to and from the toilet while unsteady on her feet.”

She added that Browne was asked to move after arguing with her boyfriend, which she did.

However, Browne, a business student from Toxteth, returned to where her boyfriend was sitting and started shouting at him again.

Crew spotted a near-empty bottle of vodka under her seat.

“She then threatened to ‘smash your face in’ as she stared at a cabin crew member,” said Ms Cassidy. “The defendant then threw the contents of a plastic bottle of Fanta, and some splashed the passengers behind.”

Browne was again asked to move but said she “would flip and cause havoc”.

She only agreed to move when crew threatened to divert the flight.

Browne said she couldn’t remember all of the incident but apologised and admitted her behaviour “sounded bad”.

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“It’s a great shame this young lady finds herself before court, losing her good character,” Rebecca Templeman, defending, said.

“It’s clear her behaviour was influenced by alcohol, which she accepts, and she also accepts the dangers of this type of behaviour and she is deeply ashamed.”

The chief magistrate told Browne: “You’re clearly aware of the stupidity of this and the consequences. As a court we are concerned about the other passengers.”

She was fined £50 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

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