'Idiot' jailed for 3 years after bomb scare on jet

James Glen, originally from Ayr, was told by a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex yesterday that he had caused a "serious threat" and subjected passengers to "gross" inconvenience.

Glen, 38, admitted "communicating information about a bomb hoax" on a flight with Etihad Airways - the national airline of the United Arab Emirates - heading from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow carrying 163 passengers and 15 crew on 24 January.

Prosecutors said the alarm was raised and two military jets scrambled after Glen, who had been drinking whisky and beer, told an attendant that another passenger had a gun and had threatened to blow himself up.

RAF Typhoons were called in to accompany the plane, which was redirected to Stansted, near Chelmsford.

The plane was flying on the day that 35 people, including British businessman Gordon Cousland, died in a suicide bomb attack at Moscow's busiest airport.

Glen had been living in Australia for 18 years and was returning to the UK to start a job as a panelbeater and car-sprayer in Chard, Somerset. Duncan Penny, in mitigation, said Glen, who began his journey in Melbourne, had "consumed alcohol" and taken an antihistamine drug.

Mr Penny added that Glen was on his first flight for many years, had expressed a fear of flying and was tired.

Judge Charles Gratwicke said any air traveller guilty of such behaviour could expect a jail sentence.

Mark Lakin, prosecuting, said flight attendants noticed that Glen, who had been living in Melbourne, had drunk a "couple" of whiskies and beer and were "concerned" about him.

He said attendants "deliberately delayed" Glen's requests for more alcohol.

Mr Makin said Glen began having "strange" conversations with a nearby passenger, Ghazanfar Ali. Glen demanded money - 200, then 10,000 then 20,000 - from Mr Ali.

He then become "agitated", asked to speak to the captain, and told a stewardess that Mr Ali had a gun, was demanding money, had a bomb and was threatening to blow up himself and the aircraft.

Mr Makin said Mr Ali was detained for "some time" by police and the plane was held at Stansted for four hours.

He said the flight attendant initially dealing with Glen - Ouafa Khennouf - was inexperienced and on her second flight as a stewardess.Mr Makin said flight attendants were "sanguine" in their dealings with Glen, which was a testament to their training.

When interviewed by police, Glen initially said he had been "threatened" before changing his mind and admitting that his allegations about the gun and bomb were false.

Mr Makin said the airline estimated that the incident cost more than 17,000 in excess fuel, passenger handling charges and passenger compensation.