A drunken passenger on board a crowded flight to Manchester Airport from Turkey threatened to “chin the chin” of a cabin crew member who took a drink from him.
Then, after the plane landed and taxied to the gate, Benjamin Lynch fell on top of a passenger sitting in his seat with a baby nearby as he “stumbled” down the aisle with his seatbelt warning lights still on, the court heard.
And his mother – also drunk on the EasyJet flight from Antalya – tried to push police officers and told them to board the flight and they arrested him. She was subsequently arrested as well.
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As the summer holiday season approaches, a Crown Court judge issued a stern warning to those who drink to excess before or on board planes as he sentenced Patricia Lynch, 59, and her son Benjamin, 29. He described the experience on board the flight in May last year as “terrifying” to other passengers.
There were 179 other holidaymakers on the return plane, including babies and young children, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard on Tuesday.
Both the mother and son, of Pope Lane, Ribbleton, Preston, pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft under the Air Navigation Order 2009.
Benjamin Lynch, who the court heard had 14 previous convictions for 23 offences, was jailed for four months. His mother, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for two months, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work. The court heard she was in a “different position” to her son and there was a “disparity” between their offending during the flight.
Judge Jonathan Seeley said Benjamin Lynch showed “great selfishness and a complete lack of respect”.
He said: “The conduct was started by you, Benjamin Lynch, and continued for a very long time. Your behavior was disgraceful – completely selfish. You shouldn’t get on a plane as an adult if you can’t control your drinking or behavior.
“Those who get drunk on a plane during a flight should expect a prison sentence. Many people on that flight were probably terrified of flying. Then when someone goes like you – why should they suffer your abuse?’
Judge Seeley said Patricia Lynch’s behavior was “disgraceful” but less serious than her son’s.
James Hudson, prosecuting, said the flight time was four and a half hours and Benjamin Lynch’s behavior began around two and a half hours. He was first seen standing in the back of the plane, talking loudly and cursing. He was warned, the court heard, but did not stop.
About an hour before landing, a passenger asked to be moved because of Lynch’s behaviour, but the court heard that he “attempted to provoke a reaction” by pushing the man and “intruding into his space”.
Patricia Lynch, the court heard, ordered a vodka and lemonade and accused the passenger of “taking the f***”. The court heard the drinks were taken from them by the cabin crew. This, Mr Hudson said, prompted a “strong reaction” from Benjamin Lynch, who threatened to “stab in the chin” of the cabin crew member before standing up and confronting him, pouring drinks over him.
The court heard after re-sitting he went to the toilet four times on approach to Manchester, then “started stumbling” down the aisle as the plane taxied to the gate after landing, falling on top of a passenger with a baby nearby at one stage. When the officers boarded, he walked down the aisle with his arms outstretched to be handcuffed. Then he started lying on the floor.
Mr Hudson said Patricia Lynch began arguing with officers, telling them her son had done nothing wrong. “She tried to push the officers and also told the officers to get out,” he said. “Officers described her as incoherent and smelling of alcohol. Both pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”
The court heard that Benjamin Lynch had shown “genuine and sincere remorse” and wanted to apologise. The holiday was said to have been “particularly stressful” and he suffered from anxiety and claustrophobia. His mother is said to have been “trying to reassure” her son and her role has been described by her lawyer as “secondary” to his and “highly out of character”.
However, Judge Seeley said: “People have to take responsibility for their own actions and alcohol is no excuse. It’s about other people. The children were affected.”