Air rage postman banned from flying for 5 years
02.05.09
A man who admitted endangering the lives of passengers on an aircraft has been banned from flying for five years and will pay over £5000 in costs and compensation. Robert Russell, a 48 year old postman from Langley Green, West Sussex, received a 12-month suspended jail term after going on a drunken rampage on a flight from Gatwick to Spain.
The Monarch Airlines flight had to be turned around in mid-air last October after he threatened to kill all its passengers while in a drunken rage. Mr Russell, who booked the flight to Malaga as a treat after being made redundant from his Royal Mail job, abused an air stewardess and even tried to open the emergency door at 30,000 feet before being restrained by crew and passengers.
He was arrested when the Malaga flight returned to Gatwick - at a cost of around £26,000. At Lewes Crown Court yesterday, Mr Russell was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, 200 hours community service, and ordered to pay £4643 to Monarch Airlines. He also has to pay £500 costs and is banned from every airport in the UK for five years.
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