A man who allegedly ran into the cockpit of an aircraft while travelling from Cape Town to London because he was angry that passengers were smoking was remanded in custody until January by Uxbridge Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Mr John Bagwell (41), with an address in Straffan, Co Kildare, was travelling to London on a South African Airline jumbo jet on December 13th-14th. The court was told he became agitated as smoke drifted to his seat from the smoking area. It is alleged that he ran into the cockpit when the aircraft was at a critical phase in the flight - during take-off and levelling out - and began swearing and shouting. There were 261 passengers and 21 crew on the flight.
Mr Bagwell is charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger the aircraft and any person in it. He will appear at Uxbridge Crown Court next month.