Passengers on a packed Jamaica-bound jet diverted over an alleged air-rage incident cheered and clapped as FBI agents boarded the aircraft, a video shown yesterday to a British court indicated. Air Tours flight A1471 from Gatwick Airport to Montego Bay on January 31st last year diverted to Norfolk International Airport in Virginia, USA, following an incident between two passengers.
A fellow passenger sitting at the front of the plane took a video of the aircraft landing at Norfolk. His video was shown to the jury at Hove Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Francis Coyle (40) and Mr Patrick Connors (36), deny affray and endangering an aircraft. Ms Elizabeth O'Driscoll (34), Ms Angela O'Driscoll, (39) and Ms Josephine Cooper (19) deny being drunk on an aircraft. All five are from a caravan park in Lewisham, south-east London.
A cabin supervisor, Ms Tracey Reeves, told the court she and the captain decided a diversion was needed after a member of a group of 12 passengers clashed with a Jamaican man at the rear of the Boeing 767.
Ms Reeves said at least six of the 12 were the last to board the plane at Gatwick.
She said: "The group were loud but not particularly disruptive. They were singing and shouting at each other. The women were louder than the men."
Ms Reeves said at one stage a male member of the group walked to the rear of the plane and asked for a can of beer. She at first refused, saying a decision had been taken not to serve the group any more alcohol.
She said: "I asked the man if he was a member of the group and he said no. He refused to show me his ticket. "He insisted he was not travelling with them. I said I would give him a can but no more. I saw where he sat down and it was with the group."
Later in the flight Ms Reeves was called to the rear of the aircraft where she found three men standing in the aisle, one covered in a liquid, and one woman standing on her seat.
She said: "The woman seemed very drunk. She was gesturing, pointing her finger and using bad language. She said: `I am going to have you'." The woman was later identified as the defendant, Ms Cooper.
Ms Reeves then stood between the man from the group who was covered in liquid, later identified as Mr Connors, and the Jamaican man. She told them to sit down.
Ms Reeves said: "The other passengers were very agitated and upset. I felt it was going to escalate into a fight if we did not do something. After speaking with the captain, we decided it was best to divert."
A passenger sitting at the front of the plane took video film of its arrival at Norfolk.
His footage showed passengers cheering and applauding as at least 10 uniformed FBI agents boarded the aircraft. The agents were later seen leading the defendants off the aircraft.
One female passenger caught on the video was heard to say: "I cannot wait to get that lot off."
The trial continues.