Man billed £12k and banned from Jet2 for life after drunken behaviour forced plane to divert
Thug Joshua Strickland threatened a family and abused cabin crew on holiday flight that made emergency landing shortly after take-off
A YOUNG man has been banned from an airline for life and billed £12,000 after his drunken behaviour forced a
holiday jet to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off.
Joshua Strickland, 21, threatened a family and verbally abused cabin crew who tried to intervene on the Cyrpus-bound Jet2 flight.
The service to Larnaca was forced to divert to Manchester airport shortly after its take-off from Leeds Bradford on Sunday, July 3, for other passengers' safety.
Strickland, who had been drinking from booze he had smuggled aboard, was arrested when the plane landed.
He was initially charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or person in an aircraft.
He had been due to stand trial at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 28, after denying the offence.
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However, he pleaded guilty to a lesser alternative charge of being drunk on an aircraft before the trial.
District Judge Sam Goozee said the nature of the offence and the fact Strickland could face jail meant the case had to be committed to Manchester Crown Court.
Mr Goozee told the defendant: “Your threatening behaviour towards passengers and crew placed many people in fear or distress. As a consequence a custodial sentence is a possibility.”
Strickland, of Lucas Avenue, York, will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, August 25.
A Jet2 spokesman issued a statement the day after the incident, which can now be reported: “Jet2.com has issued a lifetime ban to disruptive passenger, Joshua Strickland, plus billed him £12,000 after his abusive and aggressive outburst led to a divert to Manchester Airport yesterday lunchtime.
“When a cabin crew member stepped in to try to calm him down he started to make physical threats towards her and also began to punch the seats.”
Phil Ward, managing director of Jet2.com, added: “Joshua Strickland’s violent outburst was absolutely unacceptable and caused a lot of distress plus significant delays for our customers.
“He now has to face up to the consequences of his actions and we will vigorously pursue to recover the costs incurred by this unnecessary divert.”
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