A WOMAN who vomited on a family and spat wine at them at 30,000ft has been branded the “ultimate passenger from hell”.
A British Airways Captain was forced to radio ahead for cops to meet the transAtlantic flight after her “inexcusable drunken outrage”.
AlamyThe dramatic took place on an 11 hour British Airways flight to San Diego[/caption]
AlamyThe dramatic incident happened at Heathrow airport on August 12[/caption]
GettyThe flight landed in San Diego airport August 13[/caption]
Alarmed families noticed the woman necking booze from a bottle of wine she had smuggled on board in her hand luggage.
She was then served alcohol after Flight BA273 took off from Heathrow airport – ordering both a Chardonnay and a Bloody Mary – before she abused a couple and their daughter sat behind her.
A witness said: “She slugged as much wine as she could, got up from her seat, and intentionally spat the wine swilling around her mouth into their faces. It was disgusting and rancid.”
The woman continued to hassle the “petrified” family as she downed drinks.
She was seen chucking water at them, mocking them, grabbing the wife’s hair and taking photos of them.
When she’d had her fill of booze she was violently sick across the appalled trio.
After she vomited, crew stepped in as tempers frayed among everyone who sat near the woman – who was given a “final warning”.
The distressed family was moved from the economy section of the plane to the front of the aircraft.
A source said: “It was bedlam. The poor family were so upset and angry – and they had every right to be.
“The woman was a total disgrace. It was obvious she was completely blotto just minutes into the flight.
“After she was sick the whole cabin stank. It was a nightmare for everyone. She caused a major interruption. BA staff did everything they could to help out, but this woman was a shocker.
“All the passengers nearby were disgusted at the woman’s behaviour. She was undoubtedly the ultimate passenger from hell.”
The woman had claimed it was her birthday and so she was enjoying a “few drinks”. But at 30,000ft it became obvious she was “off her face”.
She began walking up and down the aisle to the toilet, “stumbling and moaning incoherently”.
Crew informed the cockpit of the disturbance after she was sick over the family.
An order was made to ensure she was not served any more alcohol. She “passed out” for the remainder of the 11 hour, 12 minutes flight on the twin-jet Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which had up to 214 passengers on board.
The Captain radioed ahead for US cops to meet the jet on touchdown in San Diego on August 13.
FBI operatives arrested the woman and led her away. Staff and passengers provided statements to help the prosecution.
AlamyCrew informed the cockpit of the disturbance after she was sick over the family[/caption]
AlamyThe Captain radioed ahead for US cops to meet the jet on touchdown[/caption]
The targeted family were helped off the flight – and are assisting authorities with their ongoing investigation – while the other passengers remained in their seats.
The ordeal will again raise questions over the passenger provision of alcohol on board jets – and in airports before take-off.
Earlier this year Ryanair said it wants a limit of two alcoholic drinks at airports, as the airline released details of legal action to recover £12,615 in costs related to a diversion caused by a disruptive passenger.
The airline has called on European authorities to bring in new curbs on alcohol to stop passengers getting drunk before boarding a plane.
Carriers reserve the right to deny boarding to anyone they deem to be excessively intoxicated.
But Ryanair now wants airports to require boarding passes be shown when passengers purchase alcohol at airport bars and pubs as they are in duty free shops.
British Airways chose not to comment.