The case against two women accused of being drunk on an aircraft which had to be diverted over an alleged air rage incident has been thrown out of court. Ms Angela O'Driscoll, aged 39, and Ms Josephine Cooper, aged 19, were both charged with being drunk on board an Airtours flight from Gatwick airport to Montego Bay in Jamaica last January.
At Hove Crown Court in East Sussex yesterday, Judge Austin Issard-Davies ruled there was insufficient evidence to identify them.
The women, from Lewisham, south-east London, who denied the charge, were standing trial with Mr Francis Coyle and Mr Patrick Connors, who are accused of affray and endangering an aircraft, and Ms Elizabeth O'Driscoll, who is charged with being drunk on an aircraft.
Judge Issard-Davies told the jury to return verdicts of not guilty in respect of Ms Josephine Cooper and Ms Angela O'Driscoll.
The case against Mr Coyle, Mr Connors, and Ms O'Driscoll, who deny all charges, continues.