Drunk passenger gets jail time for headbutting cabin crew after asking men to join mile-high club

Wine bottle next to airplane window in first class flight

A passenger has been jailed for six months after making lewd sexual comments and biting and headbutting cabin crew.

The 20-year-old woman had to be restrained by six crew members and passengers during an Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester in May last year.

The Manchester Crown Court heard that Demi Burton made sexually explicit comments to two male passengers and asked them to join the “mile high club” with her before attacking staff, according to the BBC.

Staff reportedly spent several hours trying to calm her down but she became physically and verbally abusive, biting, headbutting and kicking cabin crew and passengers.

“It was a stressful situation but whilst I managed to remain calm and professional, it’s not acceptable for crew members to be treated this way and not fair on the other passengers to witness things like this,” flight attendant Fouzia Naim said in a statement, according to the Telegraph.

Demi Burton (Cavendish Press)

Burton’s defence lawyer, Martin Callery, told the court she was returning from visiting family in Australia and became drunk on red wine because of her fear of flying.

“She is thoroughly ashamed of herself and because she is remorseful, she is utterly embarrassed at the way she behaved. It is completely out of character as far as she is concerned,” Callery said according to the NY Post.

“She went to Australia to get away from her family who have behaved towards her from her early years in a very controlling and very abusive way.”

Judge John Edwards told the court he would sentence Burton to six-months in jail as a deterrent to others.

“Good order on any flight, in particular, a long-distance one, is essential and those who undermine that put that at risk by behaving in such crass way,” Edwards said.

Featured image: (iStock.com/FotografiaBasica)

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]