British Airways passenger threatened to strangle and smother fellow flyers in furious in-flight rant

A British Airways passenger who threatened to strangle and smother his fellow flyers in a furious mid-flight rant has been banned from leaving Britain.

Simon Jones was flying from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on May 23 when the incident unfolded.

After being refused a drink by the cabin crew during the 10-hour flight, the graphic designer shouted: "Can I have a f*****g glass? Get me a f*****g glass for me. Give me a f*****g drink."

Uxbridge Magistrates' Court was told that Jones then began to get up every few minutes to go to the toilet and was "shouting and swearing at the passenger next to him".

Ashleigh Ettienne, prosecuting, said the 51-year-old "became louder and louder" and when one annoyed fellow passenger asked him "not to swear and to be mindful of other passengers, he did not listen".

When the defendant stood up to go to the toilet, his pillow touched the foot of the passenger next to him - and he said: "If you do that again I will put that into your f*****g face."

Ms Ettienne added: "The captain ordered that Mr Jones is not to be given any more alcohol.

"Mr Jones had become irate, gritting his teeth... pacing up and down the cabin."

The court heard that the passenger sat next to Jones requested to move seats in order to get away from him.

They claimed that during the pre-flight checks, he started "clapping" and "talking very loudly" and became "agitated".

The 51-year-old also sat on the section of the door which connects to the emergency slide, despite being told not to.

During the flight, he shouted at other flyers and argued with a member of the crew, at which point the captain gave the order for him to be restrained.

FLIGHT MAYHEM - READ MORE: 

• Budget airliner nearly dives into sea at 300mph just seconds after take-off
• Ryanair passengers evacuated from flight after 'smoke fills cabin'
• British Airways flight ‘makes emergency landing’ and medics scramble as four people ‘fall ill’

Ms Ettienne said: "He was restrained onto his seat using handcuffs."

He then shouted: "Oi blonde boy loosen them cuffs or I'll wrap them around your neck. What the f**k are you looking [at]? What the f**k is your problem?"

The court heard that the crew's ability to carry out their other responsibilities was "significantly impacted" because they had to check on Jones every 15 minutes.

As a result, breakfast was not served on the flight.

Upon landing, police boarded the plane and arrested him.

Jones had been living in Los Angeles for 20 years but was hoping to break into the movie business.

Gurbinder Tamana, defending, said that Jones "does suffer from bipolar" and that this behaviour was "really completely out of character for him" as he had not committed any other offences.

She said that he claimed he had only consumed one alcoholic drink, adding: "During that time in his life he was having a difficult time... he states he wasn't taking his medication as he should have.

"He has new medication that has been prescribed now. He's working now as well and that's in a bar."

Jones previously admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words towards a member of the crew of the aircraft, behaving in a threatening, abusive and insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of the crew of the aircraft.

He also admitted intentionally interfering with the performance by a member of the crew of the aircraft of the crew member's duties and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Judge Kathryn Verghis banned Jones from international travel for six months and sentenced him to a community order for 12 months, ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He will also have to pay £400 in costs and a surcharge of £114 and £150 to the other passengers.

She said: "The incident in itself was sustained from the very start of the flight... your behaviour towards a fellow passenger was completely unacceptable."