Published: Wed 10 Oct 2018 at 16:07
Updated: Wed 10 Oct 2018 at 16:13
Jet2.com is pleased to report the latest successful court ruling against disruptive passenger behaviour today, after a passenger who threatened to kill a member of our cabin crew and punched the seat of a child was jailed.
Kevin O’Hare of Camlough in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, displayed a catalogue of deplorable behaviour on our Fuerteventura to Belfast International flight in August this year, which led to our crew calling for police assistance upon landing.
Mr O’Hare did not only verbally abuse and threaten to kill a member of our cabin crew, he also demonstrated a pattern of violent behaviour towards our crew and other customers, including swinging his fists at our crew. He also tried to climb over seats and punched the seat of a child.
It is very clear that consuming alcohol illicitly contributed to this behaviour and it shows why, as part of our Onboard Together campaign, we continue to call for action to better control the sale and consumption of tax free goods purchased at airports.
We welcome the ruling, however it shows that action must be taken. During sentencing at Antrim Magistrate’s Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick said O'Hare's behaviour was ‘appalling’, adding that it was becoming ‘all too prevalent’ on aircraft.
Phil Ward, Managing Director at Jet2.com said: “Mr O’Hare’s behaviour was beyond deplorable, and his inappropriate actions terrified fellow customers and families who were travelling home after a well-earned holiday. I would like to apologise to everyone who had to experience this behaviour onboard our aircraft and I can assure customers that as a family-friendly airline we will not under any circumstances tolerate this. Mr O’Hare will not set foot on a Jet2.com aircraft for the rest of his life.
“I would also like to pay tribute to our highly-trained crew and colleagues who did a truly fantastic job in very difficult circumstances, however it is unfair that they must be left to manage the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. It is very clear that drinking to excess contributed to this behaviour and it is a stark example of why, as part of our Onboard Together campaign, we continue to call for action to better control the sale and consumption of tax free goods purchased at airports. The behaviour of this violent and drunken passenger who threatened to kill our crew, threw punches, and attacked a seat with a child in it, shows that the time for proper, industry-wide action is long overdue.”
