Ryanair passenger jailed after refusing to sit down – pilot forced to abandon landing | UK | News
Stephen Blofield was jailed (Image: Avon and Somerset Police/PA)
A drunk plane passenger has been jailed for shouting “I’m wild, I smoke JD” and “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m British” on a plane. The court heard that Stephen Blofield, 61, was so drunk on the plane that both crew and holidaymakers feared for their safety on the Ryanair flight operated by Buzz.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Tuesday and labeled “extraordinarily abusive” by a judge. The court heard he drank stunts at the airport in Krakow and became abusive as his plane approached Bristol Airport, causing widespread alarm on Boeing planes.
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Stephen Blofield at North Somerset Courthouse, Weston Super-Mare (Image: William Dax / SWNS)
At one point he shouted to other passengers, “I’m wild, I drink JD.”
When the crew asked them to calm down, he told them: “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m British.”
Bristol Crown Court heard the captain even had to abandon his first attempt to land because Blofield refused to sit down and put on his seatbelt.
Blofield, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, also ignored the pilot’s demands and was filmed being arrested in police body-worn footage at Bristol Airport after landing.
The defendant pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the incident when he appeared at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court on November 11 last year and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.
Judge Euan Ambrose told him: “You were drunk when you boarded the plane and you continued to drink while on the plane, becoming increasingly drunk during the flight.
Stephen Blofield shouted ‘I’m wild, I smoke JD’, court heard (Image: Avon and Somerset police / SWNS)
“Your behavior worsened, you became disruptive and aggressive, and you refused to comply with the crew’s basic safety instructions such as sitting down and wearing your seat belt.
“You have caused great anxiety and fear among your comrades, as well as fear and panic among the crew.
“Your behavior was such that the first attempt to land at Bristol had to be aborted and when the plane finally managed to land the police were called and the plane was boarded.
“When they approached you they found you drunk, violent, aggressive and extraordinarily abusive towards them.”
The court heard that on November 11 last year the Boeing 737 was on final approach from Feltham to Bristol.
Many passengers described him as loud, erratic, drunk and swearing repeatedly, at one point shouting “I’m wild for drinking JD”.
The court heard that when cabin crew asked him to sit down he told them: “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m British.”
Prosecutors said the booth around him was visibly fearful as several people were recording on their cellphones.
Blofield then ignored a legal request from the captain to sit down, jeopardizing the safe operations of the aircraft.
Four charges were brought against Blofield.
These included accusations of entering the plane while drunk and the pilot’s failure to comply with legal orders given “in order to ensure the safety of the plane” and remaining seated.
The two additional charges were for using threatening, abusive, insulting or inappropriate behavior towards an aircrew member and using threatening, abusive words or behavior towards other passengers that was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Blofield, who had an extensive criminal record and was on welfare, pleaded guilty to all charges.
