Woman jailed for two years after attempting to open plane door mid-flight
12 February 2020, 14:16
A drunk passenger who tried to open the door of a plane mid-flight screaming "I'm going to kill you all" has been jailed for two years.
Chloe Haines, 26, had to be restrained during the flight to Turkey and two RAF fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane back to Stansted Airport, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
She later said that she "blacked out and didn't really remember what happened" after mixing alcohol with medication, said prosecutor Michael Crimp.
The defendant, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, admitted at an earlier hearing to endangering the safety of an aircraft and assaulting cabin crew member Charley Coombe on June 22 last year.
Ms Coombe suffered scratches as she tried to prevent Haines from opening the plane door.
Judge Charles Gratwicke, sentencing Haines on Wednesday, said: "Those that are trapped in the confined space of the aircraft will inevitably be distressed, frightened and petrified by the actions of those who in a drunken state endanger their lives.
"For some, it will be their worst nightmare come true."
Haines, dressed in a white shirt and black top, with her blonde hair in a ponytail, sobbed through much of the hearing.
Jet2 calculated that the incident cost them £86,000, the court heard.
Less than three weeks before the incident, Haines was given a community punishment.
Oliver Saxby QC, for Haines, previously said: "She is a troubled young person with a number of serious issues.
“17 days before this occurred, she had been sentenced to a community order for not dissimilar offences.
“There was a loss of composure and loss of control.”
In an earlier hearing, prosecutor Katharine Houghton said Haines stood up shortly after takeoff and began threatening crew members.
She added: "She was told to sit back down, she appeared intoxicated and told cabin crew to ‘f*** off’ and then tried to open the flight door and emergency exit door.
“She was restrained by cabin crew and passengers but was shouting ‘I'm going to f**king kill everyone, you are all going to f**king die’.”
Haines' barrister told a court last year that his client has "to her credit" engaged more fully with Alcoholics Anonymous.
