THOMAS COOK AIRLINES has praised police and the courts after a man was sentenced to seven months at Hove, Lewes Crown Court for disobeying the lawful command of the Captain and endangering an Airbus A330 aircraft with 335 passengers and crew on board. Sussex Police met the aircraft after the Captain called ATC at Gatwick for police assistance, when the man (drinking his own alcohol) became abusive and threatened cabin crew and fellow passengers. The Captain ordered his crew to use restraining kits to safeguard the rest of the team, passengers and aircraft. During the incident, crewmembers were severely scratched, had clothes ripped and were subjected to long periods of abuse. Sussex Police at Gatwick Airport finally boarded the plane when it touched down and then arrested the man. Thomas Cook Airlines points out that they (in common with other carriers) operate a zero tolerance policy towards unacceptable behaviour. The airline says that the punishment sends a very clear message that both the courts and police will not tolerate it either. In another incident an easyJet passenger, who sexually molested two air stewardesses and behaved in a "boorish" manner, as last week sentenced to eight months. Police detained Boan d”Arc of Edinburgh, after flight crew radioed ahead to officers at Gatwick Airport about his behaviour. Air travellers cheered as police boarded the plane to arrest him.
http://www.thomascook.com