Nut claimed: I’m a terrorist
A SENIOR Sheriff has called for a re-think on security issues relating to in-flight drinks after a nut got drunk and claimed he was “a worker of Osama bin Laden”.
Paul Canning, 20, caused so much alarm to fellow passengers and cabin crew that police were summoned to deal with him when the Emirates flight from Dubai touched down at Glasgow Airport on May 18.
Paisley Sheriff Court was told that the accused had been shouting and swearing at other passengers and was under the influence of alcohol.
Flight attendants were so concerned they alerted police and asked them to attend as passengers disembarked from the aircraft.
By the time officers arrived, Canning had been intercepted at the immigration check-point in the arrivals hall and was sitting in an agitated state at the side as others were being processed.
Canning was warned to calm down but reacted angrily and told shocked police: “I am a terrorist – a worker of Osama bin Laden.”
He was immediately arrested.
The court heard that instead of seeing sense, Canning “continued to rant” and was removed from the terminal building and taken to Paisley’s Mill Street police HQ.
A defence agent said her client had “an exemplary work history” and was employed in Dubai.
On the day in question, he had been returning home on holiday and had consumed beers and spirits.
Canning, who was 19 at the time, hadn’t been able to drink alcohol in Dubai and had become intoxicated quickly after a “period of total abstinence”.
A first offender from a good family background, he was deeply embarrassed.
Sheriff James Spy hit out: “It seems to me that the question of alcohol in-flight is an issue which needs to be addressed in the current climate.
“Due to the nature of this offence, I intend to hit you hard in your pocket.”
Canning was fined £2,500.
By: PMN - 1st September 2006 at 11:04
I don’t see why a sensible smoker should have to suffer at the hands of those that can’t handle the smell of a cigarette? By the way I don’t smoke.
Please tell me you are joking, otherwise that is the most ridiculous, non-sensical thing I’ve read or heard in the last three days (and believe me, I’ve had a very long and very stupid last three days).
This is such a typical reaction brought on by a minority of idiots. One fool drinks beyond his capabilities, does something he possibly wouldn’t have had he been sober, yet the sensible (and vast) majority suffer. Here’s an idea… Ban him from flying for life. Ban him from leaving his country for life. If the authorities took this attitude, slowly but surely these poeple would be filtered out and we’d have less of them to endure when we travel. Makes sense to me.
Paul
By: Ren Frew - 1st September 2006 at 10:51
I don’t see why a sensible smoker should have to suffer at the hands of those that can’t handle the smell of a cigarette? By the way I don’t smoke.
Er… How exactly do you make that comparison ? I don’t think there’s such a thing as air rage caused by ‘passive drinking’ ? 😀
By: Deano - 1st September 2006 at 06:53
Most incidents onboard aircraft are either alcohol or drug related these days…..it’s a shame the yobbo’s are spoiling it for all decent people
Whilst this is true most drink related problems on board aircraft is a by-product of what happens before said passengers even board the aircraft, this is where the underlying problems are and they need to be addressed before they start banning alcohol on the actual flight
By: steve rowell - 1st September 2006 at 06:26
Most incidents onboard aircraft are either alcohol or drug related these days…..it’s a shame the yobbo’s are spoiling it for all decent people
By: glhcarl - 1st September 2006 at 05:16
I don’t see why those of us sensible drinkers should suffer at the hands of those who cannot handle alcoholic stimulation properly?
I don’t see why a sensible smoker should have to suffer at the hands of those that can’t handle the smell of a cigarette? By the way I don’t smoke.
By: Ren Frew - 1st September 2006 at 01:46
I don’t see why those of us sensible drinkers should suffer at the hands of those who cannot handle alcoholic stimulation properly ? There’s nothing I enjoy more than gazing out at the landscape or cloudscape at 35,000 ft with a fine whisky in my hand.
Oh and for the record… Sheriff James Spy and his ‘presbyterian’ views have been documented within the pages of the Paisley Daily Express for as long as I can recall… :rolleyes:
By: Mark L - 31st August 2006 at 21:28
Ironic that it was an Emirates flight really, up until a few years ago I dont believe you could get a drink at all on any of their services, I think it is just limited to inter-middle east flights currently?
By: T5 - 31st August 2006 at 21:14
Either way, it wouldn’t bother me. But I expect Ryanair would be suing the government if it were banned.
By: laviticus - 31st August 2006 at 18:31
Don’t airlines have a maximum limit to the amount of alcohol served to any one passenger,to stop the instant ar@e hole,just add booze syndrome.
I for the life of me, never understand the over indulgence on aircraft ,the one time you need your wits about you when you get off .Tickets ,passports ,ect.
By: lukeylad - 31st August 2006 at 17:51
WHAT!! NO drink on a plane thats the one thing i enjoy about flying to dublin!!
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August 31, 2006 at 5:21 pm