AN AIRLINE passenger has landed taxpayers with a £12,000 bill after he got drunk and caused trouble on a flight to Thailand.
Jobless Anthony Seddon-Knight, 56, swore at an air stewardess when she challenged him about an empty whisky bottle under his seat.
A court heard a subsequent investigation into the incident by the Civil Aviation Authority cost an estimated £12,000.
The authority said it had to hire an investigator to examine what happened aboard the flight and the expert charged by the hour.
Bill
Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard Seddon-Knight would not be able to pay a penny towards the costs as he is on benefits. The bill will now probably be picked up by the public purse.
Earlier Zabeda Maqsood, prosecuting told the court how the incident occurred on the morning of July 11, 2000 on Britannia Airways' flight BY352. There were 316 passengers on board at the time and nine cabin crew.
An hour away from landing at Abudhabi airport senior cabin crew Carol Colleridge and crew member Samantha Ford were handing out meals.
They noticed a female passenger sitting in the central aisle with an empty bottle of vodka on her table tray.
''The cabin crew spoke to the female who was slumped over,'' said Miss Maqsood.
''There were concerns for her welfare as she was foaming at the mouth. The defendant was sitting next to her. As a result of her condition he was questioned but denied knowing her.''
It later emerged the woman was Seddon-Knight's partner and both had been drinking heavily. Seddon-Knight was later challenged by other crew members but became increasingly abusive and refused to sit down and co-operate.
Seddon-Knight and his female companion, were met by police when the plane landed at Abudhabi airport and were removed from the flight.
Seddon-Knight, of Barlow Lane, Eccles, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and was sentenced to a 200 hour community punishment order.
In mitigation defence counsel Mr Peter Cadwallader said the incident was ''entirely out of character.''
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