Moment dad dragged off Jet2 flight to Turkey after drinking half bottle of whisky
A video shows the moment a drunk and abusive dad was hauled off a Jet2 flight to Turkey after he had downed half a bottle of whiskey and launched into an aggressive and foul-mouthed tirade at staff. Lewis Howarth, 36, repeatedly stood up during the safety briefing and called one stewardess a 'd***head' when asked to fasten his seatbelt.
The plane had begun taxiing to the runway at Manchester Airport when the police were called and it was forced to return to Terminal 1. Police boarded the plane and spoke to the cabin crew, who said Howarth was 'highly intoxicated' and had been swearing at other passengers.
He initially appeared compliant when approached by officers, but his behaviour quickly changed as officers tried to escort him off the flight. Prosecutor Saul Brody told Manchester Crown Court: "He started to resist and tried to fight or assault those escorting him. He was taken to the floor and handcuffed, and was described as thrashing his head towards the passengers and officers.
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"He was restrained on the floor of the aisle, and once outside he continued shouting abuse towards the officers." Other passengers cheered as he was marched off the plane, reports the M.E.N.
An officer told him: "You were bang out of order, there were so many kids on there." Howarth slurred: "My kids are there… you are f****** wrong. Nah f*** off you little rats. Do you [really think] I'm not going to go on holiday?"
"No you're not," the officer replied. When Howarth was told he was being arrested for being drunk on a plane, he began laughing and said: "No I'm not, you little rat, you f****** d***heads, rat b******s."
In a video released by the Crown Prosecution Service after Howarth was jailed, he is seen being restrained by officers on the boarding bridge. He attempted to kick out at officers, baring his teeth - in what prosecutors said was an attempt to bite officers - and making threats.
Howarth was arrested, and was later shown the footage. Prosecutor Saul Brody said he admitted he had drunk half a bottle of whisky before the flight.
Howarth has previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly; affray; racially-aggravated harassment; assaulting a police officer and failing to comply with court orders. Mitigating, barrister William Staunton said Howarth was 'peer pressured' into having a drink because he was nervous of flying. He added his client was 'chastised' by his fiancé for being drunk, which triggered his behaviour.
Mr Staunton said: "He had the hangover of all hangovers. He is profoundly ashamed and deeply remorseful. He wants to say sorry and this won't happen again." The court heard Howarth part-owns a building company and is a successful installer. He had also done various work for the community and appeared on TV doing DIY emergencies.
Jailing Howarth, of Mobberley Road, Bolton, for 14 weeks, Recorder Geoffrey Wells said: "This behaviour was shocking. There is no excuse for being drunk when you go on an airplane. Your children saw you behaving like that. What kind of example is that? Wholly disgraceful. 'Peer pressure?'. What nonsense."
Howarth pleaded guilty to entering an aircraft when drunk; assault on an emergency worker; and common assault of an emergency worker.