Fighting couple who caused Jet2 flight diversion charged with endangering aircraft

The pair have denied the charges despite several eyewitness accounts

A Jet2 flight had to divert to Faro (iStock)

A couple whose violent behaviour allegedly caused a Jet2 flight to Gran Canaria to divert in July 2017 has been charged with “recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft”.

Ronald St Ville, 55, and Pauline Gordon, 65, have been accused of using foul language and hitting each other during the LS1507 flight from London Stansted on 6 July.

The pair from London both deny the charges, which are currently being heard at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Caitlin McAleese, a junior member of cabin crew, told the court that she had been alerted to a potential situation by another passenger, reports the Hertfordshire Mercury.

When St Ville asked what wines were available, Gordon told him he shouldn’t have any, according to Ms McAleese.

“Just f***ing leave it, that s*** won’t let me,” St Ville said, the court heard.

From there, the situation quickly escalated, alleges Ms McAleese.

She told the court: “I heard raised voices and shouting. I turned around to assess the situation and I realised that it was the two passengers.

“I went down the gallery to see what was happening and as I was walking down the woman flew across the aisle and went at the gentleman.

”She was shouting, ‘Give me it back’.“

Gordon was also witnessed hitting St Ville in the neck and the back by Felicity Scott, another member of cabin crew.

Two police officers, one active and one retired, were on the flight, and stepped in to help cabin crew separate the couple.

Gordon was told to sit at the back of the plane but attempted to sit in her previous seat across the aisle from St Ville several times, the court heard.

“Some of the children had got a bit upset, there were two crying children,” said Ms McAleese. “I felt very intimidated. I was scared of the potential of the gentleman.

“The woman did apologise to us a few times.”

After cabin crew conferred with the pilots, the decision was made to divert to Faro as the rest of the journey was over water – the concern was that crew would not be able to perform their duties if anything went wrong because they had to focus all their attention on the couple.

“We would have felt completely on edge about what could happen next,” said Ms Scott. “I told the pilots because it was such a situation they needed to know about it.

”It was a situation we believed was endangering the safety to the aircraft.“

The trial continues.