A man who caused chaos on a transatlantic flight to London has been banned from travelling abroad for six months after being restrained by cabin crew mid-air.
Simon Jones, 51, from Willington in Bedfordshire, was handcuffed after shouting, swearing, and pacing up and down the cabin on a flight from the United States to Heathrow on 23 May. Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard that his behaviour escalated so severely that the captain authorised crew to physically restrain him.
Prosecutor Ashleigh Ettienne told the court that Jones began showing signs of agitation before the plane even left the runway. During the pre-flight safety demonstration, he was “clapping” and “talking very loudly,” causing alarm among nearby passengers. When approached by crew members, he became confrontational, swearing at them after being denied a glass for his drink.
As the flight continued, Jones repeatedly got up from his seat, disturbing passengers and shouting abuse at the person next to him, who eventually asked to be moved. The captain instructed that Jones was not to be served any more alcohol, but this only made him angrier. “He became irate, gritting his teeth and pacing up and down the cabin,” Ms Ettienne said.
At one point, Jones sat on the section of the aircraft door connected to the emergency slide and refused to move when told it was unsafe. He then began shouting at other passengers before arguing again with cabin crew. The captain gave permission for him to be restrained, and handcuffs were applied to secure him in his seat.
Even while restrained, Jones continued to make threats. According to the prosecution, he shouted at one crew member, “Oi blonde boy, loosen them cuffs or I’ll wrap them around your neck.” Crew were required to check on him every 15 minutes until landing, significantly disrupting their duties and affecting service to other passengers.
Defence barrister Gurbinder Tamana told the court that Jones suffers from bipolar disorder and had not been taking his prescribed medication at the time of the flight. “During that period in his life, he was having a difficult time,” she said. “He accepts his behaviour was completely out of character. He’s now on new medication and is in stable employment working in a bar.”
Ms Tamana said her client had only consumed one alcoholic drink on the flight and that the combination of stress, mental health struggles, and missed medication likely contributed to his behaviour.
Jones had previously pleaded guilty to several offences, including using threatening or abusive language toward crew, behaving in a disorderly manner, and intentionally interfering with crew duties.
Sentencing him, District Judge Kathryn Verghis said his conduct had caused distress and disruption from “the very start of the flight” and described his behaviour towards both crew and passengers as “completely unacceptable.”
Jones was given a 12-month community order, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, and attend 20 rehabilitation activity days. He must also pay £400 in costs, £114 in victim surcharge, and £150 in compensation to a fellow passenger. Additionally, he has been banned from flying internationally for six months.
