British traveller fined for disruptive behaviour on flight to Jamaica

A 27-year-old man has been fined US$3,000 after admitting to threatening to injure and being aggressive toward a crew member, as well as acting in a manner “likely to endanger other persons” on an international flight that was forced to land in Bermuda.

Magistrate Maria Sofianos imposed the fine on Lewis Densley, who had boarded the Jamaica-bound TUI Airlines flight in Birmingham, England, on Tuesday.

The magistrate’s court was told that Densley became aggressive during the journey when a crew member tried to assist him, stating he wanted to “hit someone” and “smack the guy who annoyed” him. Densley, from Birmingham, then repeatedly punched and headbutted the seats in front of him and became even more aggressive after the crew refused to serve him alcohol.

Densley’s behaviour forced the flight to divert to LF Wade International Airport, where he was arrested.

Prosecutor Matthew Frick requested that Densley be fined US$1,000 for each offence, while Densley’s attorney, Tanisha Butler, argued that her client suffered from anxiety and a fear of heights. She told the court that it was Densley’s first time flying and that he did not remember some of what happened during and after the flight.

However, Magistrate Sofianos stated that Densley should have taken “preventative measures” for his fear of heights before boarding the aircraft and ordered that he pay the US$3,000 fine before leaving Bermuda.