Jet2 bans Scots trio after boozy air rage incident

Jet2 has banned three more passengers less than a week after giving a 21-year-old a life ban. Picture: Wiki Commons

The move is part of a crackdown by the airline on disruptive passengers and comes days after it barred another Glasgow passenger for life after an incident on an Ibiza flight.

Jet2’s managing director has called for an industry database of disruptive passengers.

Jet2 is considering a booze ban on some flights and has called for alcohol sales at airports to be curbed.

In the latest incident, the airline said Paul Strain, Kevin Brady and Claire Marshall were being held by Turkish police for alleged “extreme anti-social behaviour” last week.

Mr Strain and Mr Brady have been given lifetime bans by the airline, while Ms Marshall has been given a six-month ban.

The airline said the trio allegedly verbally abused cabin crew after drinking illicit alcohol and being refused drinks from the bar on the 13 July flight.

A spokeswoman said: “The obscene language, led by [Mr] Strain and [Mr] Brady, continued throughout the flight, undeterred by verbal and written warnings from the crew.

“[Mr] Brady sang loudly and danced down the aisle, stripped off his t-shirt and made vulgar sexual gestures, thrusting at a member of the cabin crew and then throughout the cabin, in full view of families with children.

“When firmly asked to sit down, he spat in the face of the senior cabin crew whilst physically blocking the walkway along with torrents of verbal and threatening abuse.

“Prior to landing, [Mr] Strain and [Mr] Brady refused to hand over e-cigarettes which they smoked and Brady was spotted stealing wine from the bar.

“During descent, he refused to wear his seatbelt, remove his earphones and turn off his mobile phone.

“All three passengers were escorted off the aircraft by the captain and handed over to Turkish police, who were able to observe their aggressive behaviour first hand.

“The trio continued to show threatening behaviour towards the captain, followed by ripping up official documents and finally spitting at the Turkish police.”

Jet2 said the passengers were being held in Turkish cells and it would be pursuing further action.

The airline has also contacted Police Scotland and “will be looking at further action for these passengers on home ground.”

Police Scotland confirmed a complaint had been received and it was making inquiries.

Jet2 managing director Phil Ward said: “These are clear examples, indeed some of the worst I have come across, of why we need a national shared database of passengers that have been banned for disruptive behaviour, for the airlines to tackle the growing problem together.

“Aggressive behaviour will simply not be tolerated.”

Jet2, which has 44 routes from Edinburgh and Glasgow, has reported a 20 per cent increase in disruptive passengers this year, with up to eight incidents a day across its network.

Last Thursday, it imposed a life ban on Jamie Ferguson, 21, and is pursuing legal action against him in Spain after abusive behaviour on a Glasgow-Ibiza flight this month.

The airline said he allegedly displayed drunk-like behaviour, left his seat as the aircraft was about to land and ran aggressively towards a female member of cabin crew and shouted abuse in her face that he needed to use the toilet.

Mr Ward has urged restrictions on drink sales at airports after finding passengers turning up for early morning flights already drunk.

He said: “We are refusing passengers from travelling every day, and the number of people banned from our flights has reached double figures since February.

“We would welcome a higher police presence and tighter licensing laws at airports.”

The latest Civil Aviation Authority figures showed the number of disruptive passengers has nearly tripled in three years from 39 in 2011 to 114 last year.

• Jet2 in alcohol ban threat after rise in incidents