A resident of the United Kingdom was fined US$2,000 in Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for disorderly behaviour aboard an aircraft heading to Jamaica from London after the captain was forced to divert here.
Mark Anthony Blake, 46, who admitted being disruptive on Tuesday’s Virgin Atlantic flight to Montego Bay, was handed the fine by Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo.
The court heard that five hours into the flight from Gatwick Blake got out of his seat and became disruptive after being denied service of double-strength drinks.
A restraint kit was brought out, but not used.
Blake, whose home address was not disclosed, had also been involved in a dispute with a man seated behind him while on the aircraft, the court was told.
The plane was diverted to Bermuda and landed shortly after 4 p.m. (local time).
The court heard that, on arrival, Blake grappled with police officers declaring “I’m not a terrorist.”
A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic – which has no scheduled service to Bermuda -said: “The (flight) from London Gatwick to Montego Bay … diverted to Bermuda in order to remove a disruptive customer.The safety and security of customers and crew is always our priority and we will not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board our aircraft.
“We always want our customers to have the best experience when they fly with us and, while very rare, it is disappointing when a disruptive individual impacts that experience for other customers.”
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