Air-rage drunk sang IRA songs and insulted cabin crew

Published on Friday 6 June 2008 21:59

PASSENGERS on a flight to Glasgow were shocked when the calm of their business-class cabin was shattered by a drunk who started to sing pro-IRA songs.

Cabin crew on the KLM flight from Amsterdam had already regretted serving a whisky and two beers to tipsy John McFadden when he declined their offer of a meal after take-off.

Refused more alcohol, he flew into a rage, began to hurl abuse and called a stewardess a "f*****g bitch". When she complained and he said "f**k you" in response, a fellow passenger intervened. McFadden reacted by threatening him with "a doing".

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how the incident caused a drama on the aircraft as it approached Glasgow airport on 15 February.

Consultant electronic engineer McFadden, 41, of Paisley, pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner, placing cabin crew and passengers in a state of fear and alarm, shouting and swearing, uttering political remarks, and committing a breach of the peace.

Sheriff George Kavanagh said that as the accused had spent three days in custody on arrival, the fine would be held to 600.