A drunk businessman who refused to leave a flight began “high-fiving” passengers before being removed by police.
Daniel Day was escorted off the plane after officers responded to reports of a “disruptive passenger” on a Ryanair flight from Manchester Airport bound for Tenerife in July this year.
The 32-year-old was being “vocal and angry” after his friend had been asked to leave the flight due to an illness.
The captain asked for Day to be removed, but he refused, telling cabin crew and holidaymakers he would not be “f***ing getting off”, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Manchester Evening News reports when cops attended the stationary flight, Day stood in the middle of the aisle before high-fiving the other passengers and holding onto the seats. He was eventually restrained and removed.
After admitting an offence of being drunk on a plane, Day, of Forest Hill, Carlisle, was handed three months imprisonment which was suspended for two years, 150 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £530 court costs.
The court heard police were on duty at the airport when they received reports of a “disruptive passenger” at 4.40pm on July 16 this year.
Six officers attended the flight, which had taxied away from the gate but had not taken off.
Prosecuting, Megan Edwards said: “Cabin crew reported the defendant had been causing a disturbance on the plane.
“His friend was asked to leave the flight due to illness, and at this point the defendant became disruptive, vocal and angry that his friend was being removed from the flight.”
Due to Day’s, behaviour, the captain made the decision to have him removed also, but after staff asked him to leave he refused.
He became “verbally aggressive”, telling both staff and passengers to “f*** off”.
Ms Edwards continued: “He said he would not be ‘f***ing getting off’. As police officers approached him he was standing in the middle of the aisle.
“As officers approached him they told him he had to leave, and he initially complied but then began to “high-five” the other passengers and holding on to the back of the seats.”
Day was then restrained by the officers before being removed. Officers could smell alcohol on his breath, the court heard.
Mitigating, Niamh Ingham said her client sustained a cut to his face and back whilst exiting the plane.
She said: “He is a hard-working man who owns his own company, laying gas mains and electric mains.
“The defendant is deeply sorry and remorseful and he wishes to assure he will never be before the court again.”
Sentencing, Recorder Mark Ford KC: “You pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and as a result you had to be taken from that aircraft by the police.”
