A businessman found himself in hot water after going on a drunken tirade aboard a Jet2 flight destined for Turkey. As the plane was taxiing towards the runway at Manchester Airport, his belligerent actions forced the aircraft to turn back to Terminal 1 amidst cries from police who were alerted to Lewis Howarth’s disagreeable antics.
Howarth’s behaviour escalated rapidly as he insulted staff, disrupted the safety briefing by repeatedly rising to his feet, and even dubbed one stewardess a ‘d***head’ when instructed to buckle up, Manchester Crown Court heard. When officers boarded the aircraft, they learned from the cabin crew that Howarth was not only ‘highly intoxicated’ but also hurling expletives at fellow passengers.
During the hearing on 23 January, prosecutor Saul Brody recounted how Howarth seemed initially cooperative as the police approached, but as they escorted him off the plane, he became combative, attempting to strike out at them. “He started to resist and tried to fight or assault those escorting him,” Brody detailed, leading to Howarth being handcuffed after being brought to the ground amidst an audience of exasperated passengers.
The court was presented with bodycam footage where Howarth could be seen and heard unleashing a torrent of abuse even after being restrained and removed from the plane. The crowd inside cheered and applauded, some capturing the moment on their phones, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In a particularly telling moment, one of the officers remarked to Howarth, “You were bang out of order, there were so many kids on there.”
“My kids are there… you are f****** wrong,” Howarth slurred. “Nah f*** off you little rats. Do you [really think] I’m not going to go on holiday? ” he continued.
“No you’re not,” the officer replied.
When he was told he was being arrested for being drunk on a plane he began laughing and said: “No I’m not, you little rat, you f****** d***heads, rat b******s! “.
Staff from Jet2 then brought a wheelchair over to be used to escort Howarth. As he was being lifted into it he tried to bite one officer and kicked out at another.
He was arrested, and was later shown the footage. He admitted he had drunk half a bottle of whisky before the flight, Mr Brody said.
Howarth was said to have previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly, affray, racially aggravated harassment, assaulting a police officer and failing to comply with court orders.
His barrister, William Staunton, said Howarth was travelling with his family and his friend’s family, when his pal ‘peer pressured’ him into having a drink because he was nervous of flying.
He had been ‘chastised’ by his fiance when she became aware of his state of intoxication, and that became the trigger to his behaviour, he said.
“He had the hangover of all hangovers,” Mr Staunton said. “He is profoundly ashamed and deeply remorseful. He wants to say sorry and this won’t happen again.”
The court was informed that Howarth, hailing from Bolton and co-owner of a building firm, was recognised for his skills as an installer and his contributions to the community, which even included appearing on television for DIY emergency projects.
Counsel Mr Staunton defended Howarth by saying, “He is an asset to the community,”.
However, upon handing down a 14-week sentence to Howarth, Recorder Geoffrey Wells condemned his actions, stating: “This behaviour was shocking. There is no excuse for being drunk when you go on an airplane.”
“Your children saw you behaving like that. What kind of example is that? Wholly disgraceful.”
“‘Peer pressure? What nonsense!”.
He further lambasted Howarth’s actions as a “complete lack of control”, a “complete lack of thought”, and a “complete abdication of your responsibility as a father and a member of the public”.
Howarth received a half-term prison sentence before he will be released on licence. He had entered a guilty plea on charges of entering an aircraft while intoxicated, assaulting an emergency worker, and committing common assault of an emergency worker.