A DRINK-FUELLED air rage passenger was brought down to earth yesterday with a seven-week prison sentence for disorderly behaviour. David McDowall, of 1, Verlan Villas, Clairval Road, St Helier, Jersey, will also have to pay Flybe £2,000 in compensation for the flight he delayed by three hours on 20 July.

McDowall, 22, was travelling to Jersey from Glasgow, via Birmingham and Guernsey, when he became aggressive and abusive as the flight was about to leave here.

The Magistrate’s Court heard that he had drunk six pints of lager and half a bottle of vodka at Birmingham Airport.

The plane was just seconds from take-off when he stood up and became abusive to the crew and other passengers.

‘Cabin crew were unsuccessful in calming him and he told them he would kill them and slap them in the face,’ Inspector Phil Breban told the court.

Another passenger who tried to reason with him was abused verbally before McDowall, originally from Scotland, turned and swore at children sitting behind him.

Take-off was aborted and police called. It took them 10 minutes to restrain McDowall and he was also charged with resisting arrest.

Advocate Sara Mallett said her client was ashamed, shocked and embarrassed by his actions, which he could not remember.

In reference letters from his mother, aunt and ex-employer, he was described as honest and thoughtful.

‘This has been a tremendous shock to him and all his family,’ said Advocate Mallett.

‘He has recognised that he should not be drinking to the extent that he blacks out, has seen Alcoholics Anonymous while on remand and will continue do so when he gets back to Jersey.’

Assistant-Magistrate Cherry McMillen said it was a serious incident that had put the lives of those on board at risk.

Miss McMillen said that she had taken into account McDowall’s guilty plea and the week he had spent in prison since his arrest before sentencing him to seven weeks in prison for the disorderly offence and four weeks concurrently for resisting arrest. He had a previous conviction for drink-driving.

* Flybe applied for £2,056 in compensation. The £2,000 awarded was the maximum allowed in the Magistrate’s Court.