A TUI flight to Turkey was forced to divert when a drunken passenger wreaked havoc on board.
James Rae, 29, called one crew member a ‘gay boy’ after being challenged over his foul language before spilling some of his booze over a little girl sitting nearby.
The captain of the flight, which took off from Glasgow Airport before changing course and making for Newcastle Airport on May 24, gave a statement saying he was ‘very annoyed’ by Rae’s antics.
Rae, of Falkirk, pleaded guilty to entering aircraft when drunk and or be drunk on an aircraft at Newcastle Magistrates Court.
He will be sentenced at the city’s crown court on November 6.
The court heard Rae was told to stop swearing by airline staff on the flight as there were children on board.
Rehana Haque, prosecuting, said Rae, who ‘smelt intoxicated’ started drinking spirits he had bought in duty free while on the flight.
A statement from airline staff, which was read by the prosecutor, said: ‘The cabin manager explained to him that his behaviour was unacceptable.’
It added that Rae was ‘speaking in an aggressive manner towards us’.
The flight was diverted to Newcastle International Airport due to the passenger’s behaviour.
Ms Haque told the court Rae was ‘banging’ his head against the seat in front of him and spilled alcohol over a little girl.
He was arrested after the flight landed in Newcastle.
Rae’s behaviour caused airport chaos after the flight was delayed by a total of five hours and 23 minutes.
The return flight from Antalya was delayed by more than 17 hours.
In a statement, the pilot detailed how the ordeal was a ‘massive inconvenience to my airline’.
He added: ‘The whole situation made me feel very annoyed.’
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