Police drop charges against girls kicked off plane

Exclusive by Mike Keegan

November 16, 2009

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Leanne Connor and Lynette York

CHARGES against two girls kicked off a plane amid claims they tried to open a door at 50,000ft have been dropped.

Leanne Connor and pal Lynette York caused a national storm last summer after allegations of drunken antics on a flight from Kos to Manchester.

The Salford pair were escorted off the jet after their actions forced the pilot to make an emergency landing in Frankfurt. They were arrested by German officials but later allowed to return home.

Carrier XL Airways vowed to recoup the estimated £16,000 cost of the diversion. But when the company collapsed it looked as though the girls would escape punishment.

However, in May the M.E.N. revealed police officers at Manchester Airport had continued the investigation. They arrested the pair, aged 26 and 27, on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft and launched an international probe.

But the M.E.N. understands that officers have had to admit defeat a lack of evidence.

Fellow passengers on the charter flight had claimed the girls swigged from a bottle of vodka they took on the flight with them, abused staff and threatened to open the door.

But the pair, from Lower Kersal, protested their innocence. They claimed they had not tried to open the door and said they were 'just two girls who went away for a week and had a drink on the plane'.

It is thought GMP liaised with the Crown Prosecution service in a bid to bring a case before the courts. They contacted German authorities and interviewed fellow passengers on the flight.

A police statement said: "Following an official complaint the incident where two women were asked to leave an international flight is being investigated by officers at Manchester Airport.

"Two women, aged 26 and 27 were arrested by appointment on suspicion of being drunk on board an aircraft. Those charges have now been dropped."

Neither of the girls were available for comment.

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gillykins, urmston (16/11/2009 at 08:25)

Typical chavs - get away with it again!

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (16/11/2009 at 08:41)

What?????? Why??

Well I hope they are banned from flying but now that no charges have been proved, they will claim it is discrimination if they do get banned.

Stevedore, Quayside (16/11/2009 at 08:43)

These two women must have the midas touch. Firstly, the airline on whose plane these two were alleged to be drunk went bust and therefore did not pursue the women for £16,000 diversion costs and then, after a lengthy and no doubt costly police investigation, no criminal charges are being brought against them. They will be able to dine out for years on this story.

Mark,Radcliffe. (16/11/2009 at 08:51)

Manchester Airport...take your own action please,on behalf of all law abiding flyers.

Andanotherthing, Mcr (16/11/2009 at 08:57)

What a joke. A plane full of witnesses, all of whom were inconvenienced by these two and the police can't find evidence. Still theres always next time.

Panzer 391, Salford (16/11/2009 at 09:14)

Very British and Britains a joke.

Savage Mandarin, Manchester (16/11/2009 at 09:46)

Motorists are an easier target...

Jay B, oldham (16/11/2009 at 09:52)

well there you have it! now everyone can get severly drunk on flights and you'll just get away with it like these two!

the police are useless at doing their jobs properly!

Jay B, oldham (16/11/2009 at 09:55)

and whats this petty excuse of a lack of evidence?
air hostesses as direct witnesses,
many fellow passengers that are witnesses,
there was actual video footage if i remember rightly.
and the little evidence of a flight being redirected.

ah i see! not very much to go on really have you.

USELESS!

darren green (16/11/2009 at 10:09)

so despite the gmp liasing with german authorities and the crown prosecution service, and interviewing people who were actually on the plane and witnessed the incident, there is after all that, and lets be honest the gmp have certainly tried to nail these two ladies no case to answer. so maybe they were just having a few drinks and they were abit loud, but they didnt cause a national storm m.e.n! and i,m sure if they had been a couple of oxford grads it would have been a bit of high jinks. so read the story properly the police have tried everything in their powers to nail them and they could not!

Guten Tag, Manchester (16/11/2009 at 10:34)

The aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Germany because of these two. A pilot wouldn't take such action unless he was totally confident that a serious incident was occurring on board. That in itself is evidence enough surely?

A. Dolf (16/11/2009 at 11:08)

"Neither of the girls were available for comment."

At least we should be thankful for that. I'd hate to have to listen to anything these two have to say.

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (16/11/2009 at 11:20)

Any case would really need the pilot as a witness. When he/she works for another company this becomes difficult as they would not really relish him/her giving a statement and paying for them to spend a week sat around Crown Court.
The same goes for the cabin staff.
As for the passengers - how many now relish giving a statement and going to court after this time.
The girls have been lucky this time owing to the collapse of XL....fair play to the Cops for trying

hjk (16/11/2009 at 11:22)

I trust G.M.P. are going to give an explanation to why these two have been let off?

Chris Massive (16/11/2009 at 11:29)

So the good news is they can do it all again!!!!
Hoo-ray!!! How lucky the next lot of passengers will be to share a flight with these 2 lovely girl's - drunk out of their minds, frightening people with their loutish behaviour!!!! Should be banned from flying for life!!!

Ricky Bad Boy, Manchester City Centre (16/11/2009 at 11:55)

Read the story hjk-it clearly states that matters are not proceeding due to lack of evidence!

Bertie McGrew , Northern Countryside (16/11/2009 at 13:01)

Two very attractive and very misunderstood young ladies. If there was so much evidence availabe from the crew and cabin staff, let alone the passengers, these two delightful young girls would have spent time as a guest of Her Majesty. As it is, the cabin staff and crew, the so called video evidence, and the ATC evidence cannot amount to much or crminal proceedings would be swift.

A Manc and blue (16/11/2009 at 13:10)

Fining them would not of bothered them. It would of been us the tax payers who would of paid for it. I understand from previous reports that they did not work. It must be the way ahead to be a scrounger as the state will pay for your holidays.

A Manc and blue (16/11/2009 at 13:11)

I cant understand the lack of evidence. The plan had to be diverted for gods sake!

Betablockeruk, Hollinwood (16/11/2009 at 13:27)

50,000ft. Wow! Case dismissed on a technicality then.

Blue Benny (16/11/2009 at 13:38)

When asked for a comment the young ladies were quoted as replying
"am I bovvered, sorted and know wot I mean"

Mrs Jammy, Sitting on the settee (16/11/2009 at 13:51)

Proper classy ladies.......swigging vodka out of a bottle on a plane!

They should be banned from flying as they obviously can't last a few hours on a plane without causing trouble for everyone on it.

Ed from Davyhulme, Manchester (16/11/2009 at 14:37)

Their mums must be proud!! I only hope that their names are circulated to all carriers and that they are declared persona non grata for all future flights.

The Man, Sat on a chair (16/11/2009 at 14:39)

Horrible creatures

MancLadUK, Manchester (16/11/2009 at 15:04)

Interesting to see people so quick to criticise the police on a few posts here when in reality it will be the CPS who have halted this by not authorising a charge.

The police gather evidence, then it's presented to the CPS to see if they're happy to take the case to court. Often if the CPS don't feel it's going to have a high chance of a charge they'll drop the case.

The CPS can pick which cases to run, so perhaps those ranting about the police here should look elsewhere...

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